Prime Highlights-
- India opens a $4.1 million radiotherapy unit at AIIMS Rajkot to bring cancer treatment to 15.4 million people in Saurashtra.
- Eligible AB PM-JAY beneficiaries get free radiation treatment at AIIMS Rajkot, while other patients receive care at subsidized rates.
Key Facts-
- The unit has a high-energy linear accelerator, a wide-bore CT simulator and a high-dose-rate brachytherapy unit.
- Brachytherapy treats gynecological cancers, head and neck cancers, sarcomas and other tumors across 11 Saurashtra districts.
Background-
India has opened a $4.1 million (₹39 crore) advanced radiotherapy facility at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot, Gujarat, bringing modern cancer care closer to people across the Saurashtra region.
The unit will serve about 15.4 million people in 11 Saurashtra districts. These include Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Gir Somnath, Devbhumi Dwarka and Botad.
Doctors now have a high-energy linear accelerator, a wide-bore CT simulator and a high-dose-rate brachytherapy unit under one roof. The linear accelerator delivers precise radiation beams, while the simulator helps teams plan each treatment with care. The brachytherapy unit treats gynecological cancers, head and neck cancers, sarcomas and other tumors.
Patients who qualify under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) will receive treatment free of cost. Other patients will pay subsidized rates, which keeps advanced care within reach for more families.
Families in Saurashtra can now access advanced radiation treatment at a government institute in Rajkot. Patients from all 11 districts can turn to one public institute for scanning, planning and radiation treatment. The facility gives AIIMS Rajkot a stronger base for cancer care.
The launch strengthens India’s network of AIIMS campuses. The country now has 18 operational AIIMS out of 22 approved, a big step up from the single institute in New Delhi that existed earlier. Each new campus adds teaching, research and patient care capacity to another part of the country.
