Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the foundations stone of 19 cancer hospitals will be laid in the state in presence of Tata Trust chairman Ratan Tata on June 17.

• Sarma told reporters that the 19 cancer hospitals in three categories—Level I, Level II and Level II will be operationalzed in next two years.
• Government has already identified sites for 13 out of 19 proposed cancer hospitals. The Assam Cancer Care Foundation set up by the state government in association with the Tata Trust will run the cancer hospitals.
• The hospitals will be set up with an allocation of Rs 2000 Crore and the cost will be shared by the state government and Tata Trust.
• While the Level I hospital will be set up here, Level II and Level III will be located in different parts of the state.
• The hospitals to be equipped with state-of-the-art cancer care facilities will cater to the rising number of cancer cases in Northeast.
• The minister said that 5.5 crore people has enrolled and 1.19 crore cards were distributed under the Atal Amrit Abhiyan, a health insurance scheme for people in low income group to avail treatment for critical illness like cardiovascular disease, cancer, kidney, neonatal, neurological conditions and burns.

Benefits for Cancer Patients of Assam - Assam Arogya Nidhi Scheme

• Assam Arogya Nidhi Scheme of Health and Family Welfare Department provides financial assistance to the families whose monthly income is not more than Rs. 10,000 for treatment of life threatening diseases including cancer. The main objective of this scheme is to provide financial assistance to poor BPL family who are not able to get better treatment. It provides financial assistance for Radiation therapy and Anti cancer chemotherapy.
• Announcements by Health Minister for free treatment of Cancer patients
• Assam Health Minister announced that Government will provide free treatment to all cancer patients in all civil hospitals. OPDs with two doctors will be set up in all the civil hospitals for this purpose.
• Separate 100 bed cancer hospitals will be set up in Dibrugarh, Barpeta, Tezpur and Silchar Medical College and Hospitals. Every November month would be observed as Cancer Awareness Month.