BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha cabinet on Monday approved the proposal for establishment of a 500-bed cancer hospital and a 100-bed palliative care unit in Info Valley area in Bhubaneswar, also known as Info City II.
Briefing reporters, chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said entrepreneur couple, Subroto Bagchi and his wife Susmita, have pledged Rs 340 crore for the two projects to be run in partnership with two Bengaluru-based charitable organisations.
Sri Shankara Cancer Care Foundation would run the cancer hospital while Karunashraya Hospice Trusts will manage the palliative care unit.
“Susmita & I will donate 340 crores to bring @karunashraya to set up a world class palliative care unit & @shankaracancer for a cutting-edge cancer hospital. Deeply grateful @CMO_Odisha for the shared vision & support. Odisha will soon emerge as a leading oncology player in India,” Bagchi tweeted.
Government sources said tripartite agreements involving the state government, the Bagchis and the charitable bodies is scheduled to be signed on Wednesday evening.
In the first phase of the cancer hospital, 250-bed facility is likely to be functional by January 2024.
The palliative care centre would start working in a rented accommodation within 90 days and would be shifted to its permanent campus later.
A government statement said the caner hospital will be known as Bagchi Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Bhubaneswar.
While the Bagchis will spend Rs 210 crore on this, the government would provide 20-acre land free of cost.
The state of the art hospital will reserve 25% beds for free treatment, 25 % for patients supported by various government health schemes such as the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana. Rest 50% patients will pay for the service.
The institute will be an oncology centre of excellence with services on surgical, medical and radiation oncology, paediatric and haemato-oncology, among others.
The palliative care unit will be known as Bagchi- Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre, which will be first of its kind in Odisha. The Bagchis will provide fund support of Rs 130 crore while the government will provide 20 acres.
The centre will provide both hospice based and home based palliative care. Service in the 100-bed facility will be 100% free, the government statement said.
Some of the salient features of the centre will be its pain clinic, aseptic procedures, end of life care with empathy and death with dignity.