BHUBANESWAR: In a major boost to cancer care services in Odisha, HCG Panda Curie Hospital at Cuttack on Sunday announced launch of Positron emission tomography -computed tomography (PET CT) scan unit for precise diagnosis and treatment of disease.
The PET CT Scanner was inaugurated by Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak in presence of chairman, HCG Group, Dr BS Ajai Kumar and medical director of HCG Panda Curie Cancer Hospital Prof Krupasindhu Panda.
PET CT is the most advanced and sensitive of the imaging procedures that can accurately detect cancerous tissues and their spread in the body. This enables doctors to adopt appropriate treatment modalities to treat patients and significantly enhance chances of cure and survival.
“The facility will hugely benefit patients of Odisha as they will no longer have to go outside the State for such diagnosis and treatment. The unit has been set up with an investment of `8.5 crore,” Dr Kumar told mediapersons here.
The HCG Group chief also announced ambitious plans for expansion of the hospital at Cuttack. The hospital at Telengapentha in Cuttack is set to add 40 more beds to the present 100 capacity in next three months. It will also add a high-end Linear Accelerator to the existing LINAC facility and open a bone marrow transplant unit and paediatric oncology department soon.
“We have started looking for land at suitable locations in and around Cuttack for a second 100-bed hospital,” Dr Kumar said.
Prof Krupasindhu Panda said there was an urgent need for increasing beds in view of huge number of cancer patients in the State. For around 60,000 patients, there are only 400 beds combining both the Government and private sector in the State.
“Advance diagnostic and treatment procedures have significantly enhanced cure rates in cancer patients. Now with appropriate treatment, about 50 per cent of all cancer patients get cured. Thus, we have to strive to make all facilities available for patients of the State,” Prof Panda said.
The HCG Panda Curie Hospital in association with Odisha Cancer Foundation Trust on Sunday also observed Cancer Survivors’ Day with day-long programmes. A cancer survivors meet was held at Cuttack with around 120 persons taking part.