Assam Signs INR 600 Cr Deal for India's First State-Run Proton Therapy Centre

The project, supported by the World Bank and the Assam State Government, will introduce advanced proton-based radiation treatment for cancer patients in the Northeast.

The Government of Assam has signed an agreement with IBA Particle Therapy India Pvt. Ltd. to establish India's first state-government-run Proton Beam Therapy Centre in Guwahati, with an investment of approximately INR 600 crore. Supported by the World Bank and the Assam State Government, the project will introduce advanced proton-based radiation treatment for cancer patients in the Northeast.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma signed the agreement at Lok Sewa Bhawan. The project will receive INR 315 crore in World Bank funding and Rs 285 crore from the state government.

The proposed centre will be equipped with the ProteusONE system, an advanced proton therapy platform developed by Belgium-based Ion Beam Applications (IBA). The technology uses precisely targeted proton beams to destroy cancer cells while limiting radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

Proton therapy can be particularly beneficial for patients with certain cancers affecting the brain, spine, eyes, head and neck, oesophagus, lungs, liver and breasts. It also offers potential advantages in pediatric oncology, where reducing radiation exposure to developing organs can help lower the risk of long-term complications.

Under the agreement, IBA will provide specialized training to doctors, medical physicists, technicians and other healthcare personnel. Selected professionals will also receive training at international centers operating similar systems. The state government has approached Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, to facilitate early onboarding and practical training of medical staff.

The project is being implemented under the World Bank-supported Assam State Secondary Healthcare Initiative for Service Delivery Transformation (ASSIST Project), through the Assam Health Infrastructure Development and Management Society.

The proton therapy facility will complement Assam's existing cancer care network developed through the Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF), established in partnership with Tata Trusts. Under the initiative, 17 cancer hospitals are being developed across the state, of which 12 are already operational.

According to figures shared by Sarma, the network has recorded more than 2.6 lakh outpatient consultations and provided inpatient treatment to over 82,500 patients. It has also administered more than 1.88 lakh chemotherapy cycles, delivered radiation treatment to approximately 20,000 patients and conducted over 400 major cancer surgeries.

The Guwahati centre is expected to serve patients from across the Northeast and other parts of India. Assam also anticipates attracting patients from neighboring countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar, potentially expanding access to specialized cancer treatment in the region.

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