Government of Assam and Tata Trusts, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide comprehensive cancer care and ensure affordable quality treatment for cancer patients in the state. Assam is one of the states that has the highest per capita cancer burden in India. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed under the presence of Shri. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Assam along with R. Venkataramanan, Managing Trustee, Tata Trusts.
The collaboration will strive to strengthen the cancer care system and reduce the economic burden of cancer treatment throughout the state. The MoU provides for the use of technology through a network that will provide preventive services to prioritize disease and palliative services and reduce the economic, mental and physical burden of patients.
Under the partnership, Tata Trusts will assist in the training of cancer care staff, establish a Management Information System, facilitate the leverage of national plans and advise on procurement of medical supplies and ancillary services. The Trusts will work on both preventive and curative aspects of the dreaded disease. This includes training physicians, nurses and technicians in different specialized disciplines, creating awareness within communities, guiding the population at risk in the state to be examined in medical facilities in their areas; And follow-up of patients diagnosed to ensure that they are receiving the necessary treatment. While initial trainings will be conducted at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai and Tata Medical Center, Kolkata, later batches will be trained at the National Cancer Grid centers in Assam. In addition, a state-level "Steering Committee" will be established to govern and guide the program.
Besides integrating the new programme with the existing plans and programmes of the state, the Trusts will also advise the government on all aspects related to cancer control.
Shri. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Honorable Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Assam Government, said: "We are here to sign a memorandum of understanding between the Government of Assam and Tata Trusts with a new vision 2012. We are here to discuss something more visionary, Tata Trusts will support us to the fullest extent possible in delivering quality cancer services. I extend my deepest appreciation to Tata Trusts, who are committed to establishing Comprehensive cancer care in collaboration with the Government of Assam. "
Mr. Ramadorai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, said: "I am pleased to see the vision of shifting cancer quality services from tertiary centers to district hospitals under the visionary leadership of the Minister of Health Shri Biswa Sarma.This together with a focus on prevention will definitely alleviate the overall burden of cancer in the state. "
Mr. R. Venkataramanan, Trustee Administrator, Tata Trusts, said: "We move beyond our conventional ways of seeing cancer care and models like this will go a long way to promoting a new generation of treatment and cure. Today also happens to be World Anti-Smoking Day - tobacco malice is directly related to almost 40% of the cancer cases in the country.While we focus and emphasize treatment and healing, we also have to work Jointly to increase focus on cancer prevention. A tobacco-free Assam will see at least a 50% reduction in Assam's cancer burden over the next.
