Making cancer treatment affordable is major challenge: Maharashtra CM

Inauguration of Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital cancer care centre

Pune: Ruing the fact that Maharashtra is "infamously" at number two in cancer cases, Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Fadnavis today said the biggest challenge before technology is to bring down the cost of the cancer treatment and make it affordable and accessible to all.

"Cancer is the dreadful disease of all the time and for Maharashtra it is a big challenge as we are infamously at number two position in cancer cases in the country as after Uttar Pradesh, most cases are found here," said Fadnavis, who was here at Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital to inaugurate a comprehensive cancer care center.

He said the biggest challenge before the technology is to bring down the cost of the cancer treatment and make it affordable and accessible for all.

"Although, technological innovation has increased in last one decade, the accessibility and affordability still remain a challenge and I think, we need to work on this aspect," he said.

"The motive behind setting up this facility is not for profit but philanthropy. The hospitals commitment towards society and country is commendable," the CM said.

Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital said, "We have always kept patients at the forefront of all our initiatives at ABMH thereby providing a holistic approach in patient care. Our key objective is to help patients fight the disease on time and get back on the road to normalcy as quickly as possible."

Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group added, "We are committed to provide continuous quality and safe healthcare to the society in order to mark our presence in the global map."

The centre includes Pune’s first PET scan, CT Scan with BiographTM mCT to give high quality imaging to enhance the plan of treatment for the cancer patients, as per hospital officials.

It has Asia’s first radiation advanced linear accelerators Electa Versa HD therapy machine to deliver radiation up to sub-millimetre targets, well set-up department of nuclear medicine, department of histopathology, a fully-equipped surgical oncology centre with the latest Operation Theatres and specialised 22 beds day care chemotherapy special unit which includes 2 pediatric beds and 2 private room for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

It additionally has 2 beds for bone marrow transplant facility (BMT) and 2 beds for radiation therapy, they added.