Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital at Mullanpur likely by year-end

Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 11

Conceived around three years ago, Medicity at New Chandigarh (Mullanpur) in Punjab is set to see the light of day as Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre is likely to be operational by year-end. Besides this, the state government has also allotted land to three more players such as Max Super Specialty Hospital, Chaitanya Hospital and Grewal Eye Institute. 

Being set up with a project cost of around Rs 450 crore, the centre would be spread across 50 acres. According to state government functionaries, the Centre has committed to invest Rs 217 crore on civil work alone.

“It will act as an anchor unit for other healthcare players and we anticipate more healthcare players to join the bandwagon once it starts functioning. As of now, we have allotted around 10 acres to three private players,” said a state government official. 

The 300-bedded hospitalwould be equipped with high-end cancer diagnostic and treatment facilities besides chemotherapy and surgical facilities. It will also day care centre, ICU and recovery units. 

The Punjab Government had allotted 50 acres to Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) in Medicity in 2016 to establish a world-class cancer institute rechristened as Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre. The TMC has already set up Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital in Sangrur.

In 2017, the Department of Atomic Energy had awarded the construction work of the hospital to Shapoorji Pallonji Group. 

The centre will act as a tertiary care centre for the northern region comprising Punjab, Haryana, HP, J&K, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and UP.

The completion of the project will not only make healthcare facilities accessible to the region but will also help in promoting medical tourism. Recently, Avneet Kaur, joint CEO, Invest Punjab, had said: “Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion is focusing on developing Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Mohali as hubs for medical tourism through a variety of initiatives.” 

The Medicity in New Chandigarh was launched in 2017 and is spread over 250 acres. It comprises sites for multi-specialty and super specialty hospitals, medical research institute, housing facilities for doctors and paramedical staff and a budget inn for attendants. The campus offers sites for medical colleges-cum-hospitals, a convention centre, laundry, incinerating unit and a dedicated dumping facility, making it a self-contained medical campus.

Punjab’s health card

• Rank in Niti Aayog’s Health Index Report: 2
• National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH)-accredited hospitals: 50
• Estimated bed capacity: 8,000 in NABH hospitals
• Registered doctors: 16,000