Ground report: Procedural delays hold up cancer institute at GMC

Even as the construction of a new building of the State Cancer Institute (SCI) at Government Medical College (GMC) has been completed after missing several deadlines, yet it would take some time to become fully operational because of ‘procedural delays’ in the installation of advanced machines and taking necessary permissions for making them operational.

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The 150-bed state-of-the-art-facility is designed to provide advanced cancer treatment and care to the patients of Majha and Doaba region of Punjab apart from those from the neighbouring states, including Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Equipped with the latest technology for treatment of cancer patients, including high-end linear accelerators and advanced operation centres, the SCI would also include the departments of surgical oncology, medical oncology, nuclear medicine and radiation oncology, along with rehabilitation and palliative care units.

“The OPD has started in the building while the latest and advanced machines and equipment are being installed in the new building. Hopefully, it will become fully operational soon,” said Dr Rajiv Devgan, Director Principal, Government Medical College.

He said the SCI, operating from the existing building, was already providing advanced treatment like cancer surgeries, chemotherapy, ultrasound, CT scan, high-energy linear accelerator for the patients coming from different parts of Punjab.

“Step by step, every machine and equipment is being installed and tested for the final go-ahead. It is a lengthy process and takes time,” Dr Devgan pointed out.

The foundation stone of the new building was laid around seven years ago though actual construction work started after the Covid pandemic which had hampered the work.

After the new building becomes fully operational, all the facilities and treatment including surgery, chemotherapy etc would be under one roof. At present, the surgeries of cancer patients are done in the surgical department of Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.

Once operational, it is likely to cater to more patients and turn into a regional hub of cancer care and research, reaching benefits to patients from Punjab and neighbouring states also.

The hospital receives 130-150 new cancer patients every month, many of whom travel from neighbouring districts such as Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Tarn Taran and Jalandhar, along with some migrant patients from other states.

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