New Cancer Hospital Opens in Patan, Offering Free PET Scans for Ayushman Beneficiaries

Patan, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : A new cancer hospital has officially opened in Patan, significantly improving healthcare access for residents of North Gujarat. Inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Sunday, the PB Patan Public Cancer Hospital, managed by the Jeevan Jyoti Charitable Trust, aims to provide advanced treatment options closer to home.

The facility has invested approximately ₹22 crore in a linear accelerator (LINAC) machine for radiation therapy. It will also introduce Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans, a service previously unavailable in the region. Beneficiaries holding Ayushman Bharat cards will receive these PET scan services at no cost.

During the inauguration, Patel emphasized that while Patan serves as a vital health hub in North Gujarat, there has long been a lack of specialized cancer treatment facilities. He expressed hope that the new hospital would address this gap and reduce the need for patients to seek treatment outside the region.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the rising prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and mental stress. He voiced concerns regarding the increasing use of tobacco and other addictions, urging citizens to adopt the vision of a “Nasha Mukt Bharat” (Drug-Free India) and to follow preventive healthcare measures recommended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Patel stressed the importance of environmental conservation, cleanliness, and water management, asserting that achieving the goal of a “Developed India” by 2047 is contingent upon the health of its citizens. He encouraged participation in the central government’s rainwater harvesting initiative to support groundwater replenishment and called for tree planting under the “One Tree in Mother’s Name” initiative to combat global warming.

Dr. Pramodbhai Patel, the managing trustee of the Jeevan Jyoti Charitable Trust, noted that the public hospital has provided over 1.5 million outpatient consultations and treated more than 1.5 million inpatients, along with performing over 100,000 surgeries. He also reported that the hospital has conducted more than 1.5 million CT scans, over 50,000 MRI scans, 15,000 angiographies, and more than 2,000 angioplasties.