GUWAHATI, July 1 - In order to create human resource in the field of oncology in view of the rising incidence of cancer in Assam and other northeastern States, the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited has decided to establish a capacity development centre in oncology at Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati.
In this connection, an MoU between BBCI and Power Grid Corporation Limited was signed on Wednesday.
As per its CSR scheme, the Power Grid will set up the capacity development centre at a total cost of Rs 3.98 crore. The centre will have facility for classroom, faculty room, office, library and also limited accommodation for students.
The MoU was signed by AK Borthakur, Deputy General Manager (HR) on behalf of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited. Director, BBCI, Dr AC Kataki was represented by TK Goswami, Senior Administrative Officer of the institute.
The Management of BBCI complimented Power Grid Corporation Limited for its generous support.
As per Population Based Cancer Registry of ICMR, the incidence of cancer is the highest in the State of Mizoram followed by Arunachal Pradesh, East Khasi Hills district and Urban Kamrup district.
About 23,000 cancer patients are detected every year in Assam and there are about 60,000- 65,000 prevalent cancer patients at any given point of time.
�Cancer treatment facility in the northeastern region is limited in spite of its high incidence. Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute is the only comprehensive cancer centre catering to the needs of the Northeast. The institute is also involved in education, research and community-based programme for control of cancer,� Dr Kataki said.
In India, there is a shortage of about 10 lakh doctors and 20 lakh nurses. To overcome the shortage of doctors in the field of oncology, BBCI has tied up with Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, to start a two-year Postgraduate Oncology Fellowship Programme in five disciplines of oncology from July 1, 2016.
�It is heartening to note that doctors from Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Bihar have joined the courses. The Medical Council of India has also accorded permission to start M.Ch in Surgical Oncology at Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute for the first time in the entire Northeast from the academic year 2016-17. The first batch of MD (Radiotherapy) students from BBCI has successfully completed the course and has been absorbed in the institute,� Dr Kataki said.
The institute also conducts short-term training courses for doctors and researchers from the northeastern States. To overcome the shortage of doctors and nurses at BBCI, the institute has appointed a few doctors and nurses recently.
