Tatas, Assam govt to set up Rs 1400 crore cancer care grid

GUWAHATI: The Tata Trusts and the state government are collaborating to set up, in a first, a three-level Rs 1400-cr cancer care grid that will connect district hospitals, medical colleges to an advanced centre at Guwahati. Tata Trusts is the philanthropic arm of the Tata Group.

"A South Asian cancer research centre has also been proposed to be set up to undertake research on identifying reasons and develop treatment protocols with a focus on South Asia," state health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said after his meeting with Ratan Tata in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Sarma tweeted, "After fruitful discussions with Sri Ratan Tata we expect a positive announcement from Tata Trusts shortly on this iconic collaboration." The Tata Trust-supported National Cancer Grid (NCG), another first-of-itskind initiative that was launched in 2012, at present connects 108 hospitals across the country to provide affordable and equitable cancer care through technology and to support the development of specialised human resources.

Sarma said, "I am extremely delighted to have met the legendary Ratan Tata and members of Tata Trusts for what may become a rare philanthropy-government collaboration on cancer care and management. Government of Assam and Tata Trusts are working on setting up a unique, first-of-itskind three-level cancer care grid at state, capital and district levels which is likely to have investment of Rs 1400 cr to be shared between Tata Trusts and the state. This shall also leverage various state and central government schemes."