Advanced Radiotherapy Facility Launched at AIIMS Rajkot, Expected to Benefit 15 Million People

Rajkot, November 2 (Daily Kiran) : Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda inaugurated an advanced radiotherapy facility at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rajkot on November 2. He emphasized the government’s commitment to providing better cancer treatment for all citizens, ensuring that economic status or location does not hinder access to quality care.

Developed under the Prime Minister‘s Health Security Scheme, this facility was established at a cost of approximately 390 million rupees. It aims to bridge the gap in high-quality healthcare services across various regions. Residents of Saurashtra and Kutch will particularly benefit, as they previously had to travel to distant cities like Ahmedabad and Mumbai for specialized treatment.

During the event, Nadda highlighted the significant burden cancer places on patients and their families, affecting them medically, emotionally, socially, and financially. Timely treatment is crucial. He noted the expansion of AIIMS under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, stating that while there was only one AIIMS in New Delhi, 18 out of 22 AIIMS institutions are now operational, increasing access to high-quality healthcare.

The health minister stressed the importance of cancer prevention and timely screenings. Since 2018, nearly 440 million screenings for hypertension and diabetes have been conducted through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Additionally, around 370 million screenings for oral cancer have identified approximately 250,000 patients. Breast cancer screenings have detected about 95,000 cases among 177 million women, while nearly 100,000 cases of cervical cancer were found from 98 million screenings. Early detection significantly improves recovery chances.

Citing a Lancet report, Nadda mentioned that 90% of cancer patients begin treatment within 30 days of diagnosis, largely due to the financial security provided by the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Eligible beneficiaries at AIIMS Rajkot will receive free cancer treatment, while others will be offered services at discounted rates.

Gujarat’s Health Minister Prabhul Pansheriya welcomed the facility’s launch and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi. Central Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava described this development as a significant achievement for AIIMS Rajkot and a crucial step toward building a developed India.

The government has strengthened healthcare services through over 180,000 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. Efforts to reduce cancer medication costs include initiatives like Amrit Pharmacy, Jan Aushadhi centers, and exemptions on basic customs duties.

This advanced facility is expected to benefit approximately 15.4 million people in the Saurashtra region, covering districts such as Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Gir Somnath, Devbhoomi Dwarka, and Botad.

The facility is equipped with a high-energy linear accelerator, wide-bore CT simulator, and high-dose rate brachytherapy unit, enabling treatments with millimeter-level precision using modern techniques like IMRT, VMAT, IGRT, SRS, SRT, and SBRT. The radiation oncology department at AIIMS Rajkot has been operational since May 29, 2026, and expects to treat between 500 and 700 patients annually.