Expansion of advanced cancer treatment facilities in India

India is expanding its access to advanced cancer treatment through the establishment of new radiotherapy and proton beam therapy facilities.

In Assam, the government signed a memorandum of understanding with Belgium-based Ion Beam Applications to create the country’s first public-sector proton beam therapy centre at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital. The project, estimated to cost Rs 600 crore, aims to provide precise radiation treatment that minimizes damage to healthy tissue, particularly for pediatric patients, and is expected to be operational within three years.

In Gujarat, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Rajkot inaugurated a 4.1 million USD radiotherapy unit featuring a high-energy linear accelerator and a high-dose-rate brachytherapy unit. This facility is intended to serve the Saurashtra region, offering free treatment to eligible patients under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.

Additionally, KIMS Hospitals in Secunderabad introduced Advanced TrueBeam Technology integrated with Brainlab Dynamic Surface Guided Radiation Therapy. This system uses real-time monitoring and non-contact body surface tracking to improve precision and manage respiratory motion during radiation delivery.