Centre, Goa government to ink MoU with Tata Memorial Centre for cancer care

Panaji: The Centre, the Goa government and Mumbai-based Tata Memorial Centre will soon sign an agreement to start an out-patient department (OPD) for cancer patients in a new government-run hospital, State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said on Monday.

Announcing the tripartite agreement, Rane said doctors from Tata Memorial Centre will visit the new hospital once a week.

“I am happy to announce that the Government of India, Government of Goa, and Dr Shrikhande of @TataMemorial will be signing a MoU shortly to take the initiative forward of starting OPDs for cancer patients, where doctors from Tata Memorial Centre will visit the new hospital once a week,” the minister tweeted.

I am happy to announce that the Government of India, Government Of Goa, and Dr. Shrikhande of @TataMemorial will be signing a MoU shortly to take the initiative forward of starting OPDs for cancer patients, where doctors from Tata Memorial Centre will visit the new hospital once… pic.twitter.com/QOaxFVtOYs

— VishwajitRane (@visrane) July 3, 2023

The state government has started the construction of a hospital, which will be ready in 16 to 18 months, he said.

This agreement will help people access cancer treatment, preventive care, and touch upon every aspect of cancer just like Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, the minister said.

The new hospital will help thousands of people in Goa and peripheral areas right up to Sindhudurg and parts of Karnataka, he said.

Apart from the OPDs, the hospital will also run regularly as discussed with the Central government and Tata Memorial Centre, Rane said.

“The whole intention is to make this an autonomous body so that we are able to manage with the best of doctors and healthcare services,” he said.

The prime minister's goal is to make healthcare accessible and affordable to all citizens and reducing disparity is his priority, he said.

“Taking this goal forward, we want to provide Goa access to high-quality medical treatment so that our people won't need to travel outside the state to avail them,” the minister said.