Patan Cancer Hospital Opens, Offering Advanced Radiotherapy and PET Scans
Patients in North Gujarat can now access a range of specialised cancer care services in Patan, as a new cancer hospital was inaugurated on Sunday. The development is expected to reduce the burden of travel for patients who previously relied on facilities in Ahmedabad.
The PB Patan Janta Cancer Hospital, managed by the Jeevan Jyoti Charitable Trust, was opened by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. He said the hospital would help cancer patients in Patan and neighbouring areas receive modern treatment near their homes.
To strengthen radiotherapy services, the hospital has bought a linear accelerator (LINAC) machine. The purchase cost is estimated at around Rs 22 crore.
Another major highlight is the introduction of a positron emission tomography (PET) scan facility. This service was not available earlier in North Gujarat. Under the scheme, Ayushman Bharat card holders will get PET scans without any charge.
Speaking at the event, Patel said Patan is an important health centre for the northern region of Gujarat, yet it had lacked dedicated cancer treatment facilities. He stated that the new hospital would fill this gap and cut down the need for patients to travel outside the area.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the rising cases of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and mental stress. He raised concerns about increasing tobacco use and other addictions.
Patel urged citizens to support the vision of a 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' and to adopt the preventive healthcare steps proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He further emphasised the importance of protecting the environment, maintaining sanitation and managing water resources. According to him, the goal of developing India into a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047 can be met only when citizens remain healthy.
Patel asked people to participate in the Centre's 'Catch the Rain' campaign and help replenish groundwater through rainwater harvesting. He also called on citizens to plant trees under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative to increase green cover and tackle global warming.
Dr. Pramodbhai Patel, managing trustee of the Jeevan Jyoti Charitable Trust, highlighted the hospital's service record. He said more than 1.5 million outpatient consultations and over 1.5 million inpatient treatments have been delivered, along with more than one lakh surgeries.
He also noted that over 1.5 million CT scans, more than 50,000 MRI scans, over 15,000 angiographies and more than 2,000 angioplasties have been performed at the hospital.