Lisbon (Portugal) - The Lisbon based Champalimaud Foundation has entered into a partnership with the Government of Rajasthan, India, to establish a state-of-the–art cancer institute with world-class facilities. This cancer centre, spread over about 35,000 m2 of land, will offer the most advanced facilities for the treatment of cancer patients at affordable cost. This includes the latest radiotherapy equipment in order to provide the type of cutting-edge radiation therapy solutions currently being pioneered at the Champalimaud Clinical Centre.
On October 2nd in Jaipur, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Champalimaud Foundation and the Government of Rajasthan. The Champalimaud Foundation will participate in technical collaboration for the establishment of the Centre as well as research in the field of oncology treatment. In the presence of the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Smt. Vasundhara Raje, and Foundation President, Leonor Beleza, the MoU was signed by Member of the Board of Administration of the Champalimaud Foundation, João Silveira Botelho, and the Principal Secretary for Medical Education in Rajasthan, J C Mohanty.
The Foundation will provide training to selected service providers, technical support in identifying other centres in the State for Phase II operations, ensure implementation of advanced clinical procedures aligned to most up-to-date advances design and implement clinical research.
Cancer today is world's second biggest killer after cardiovascular disease. The World Health Organisation reported 12 million new cases in 2007 and this is expected to rise to 27 million new cases by 2030. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, cancer is now the number 1 killer in India and cases are projected to increase 1.5 times by 2030.
In the State of Rajasthan, facilities equipped with modern linear Accelerators (LINAC's) in the public sector are available only in two divisions (Jaipur and Bikaner). Patients in Rajasthan currently seek diagnosis and treatment services from other States and reputed institutions, particularly for radiotherapy. Rajasthan has the need for more cancer facilities, with a significant and pressing increase in radiotherapy equipment and treatment to cater to present demand. With this in mind, cancer patients from the State would not be required to go outside Rajasthan for oncology treatment.
Patients below the poverty line will be treated free of cost and other patients will be charged minimum. This cancer centre, spread over about 35,000 m2 of land in Rajasthan University of Health Sciences campus, will be one of a kind in India. This Institution will aspire to be a centre of excellence for cancer treatment promoting prevention, cure, rehabilitation, palliation and advancement.
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