GUWAHATI, June 17 - Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today inaugurated the Digital Information Nerve Centre at the State Cancer Institute (SCI) that will link the cancer care set-ups of the State with cancer hospitals of the Tatas in Mumbai and Kolkata.
The centre was inaugurated in the presence of Tata Trusts chairman Ratan Tata.
�Through this initiative, the doctors will be able to discuss cases of patients with those from the Tata hospitals in Mumbai and Kolkata. In many cases, patients will no longer require to travel outside Assam,� Sarma told newsmen here.
This initiative, according to the minister, will help patients to access healthcare facilities at doorstep and enable them virtual linkage with experts from across India for consultation and treatment planning. �This is an important step in the State government�s vision to use technology in democratizing access to cancer care,� he said.
The State government and Tata Trusts have proposed to develop 19 cancer care centres across the State.
Meanwhile, Ratan Tata launched the services of the North East Small Finance Bank here today. Tata along with minister Sarma launched 28 branches of the bank at a function.
This is the region�s first small finance bank.
�To have a prosperous India, we need to be a land of equal opportunities,� Ratan Tata said.
Rupali Kalita, CEO and MD, North East Small Finance Bank, said that the focus would be on low-income group of the region and the bank will strive to take banking to the doorsteps of these people.
