JP Nadda Inaugurates INR 39 Cr Advanced Radiotherapy Facility at AIIMS Rajkot

The facility operates within an integrated cancer care framework supported by chemotherapy and surgical services, enabling multidisciplinary treatment at a single institution.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda has inaugurated an INR 39 Cr Advanced Radiotherapy Facility at AIIMS Rajkot to expand access to specialised cancer treatment in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region.

Equipped with advanced radiation therapy technologies, the facility aims to reduce the need for patients to travel to distant cities for cancer care.

Established under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), the Advanced Radiotherapy Facility at AIIMS Rajkot strengthens regional tertiary healthcare infrastructure.

The department began providing radiotherapy and chemotherapy services on 29 May 2026 and is expected to handle 500-700 cases annually during its initial phase.

The facility is designed to serve approximately 1.54 crore people across Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Gir Somnath, Devbhumi Dwarka and Botad.

The service is expected to benefit rural and semi-urban communities, particularly patients who previously travelled to Ahmedabad or Mumbai for specialised cancer treatment.

The infrastructure includes a High Energy Linear Accelerator (LINAC), a Wide Bore CT Simulator and a High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy Unit. The LINAC supports advanced radiation techniques, including Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) and stereotactic treatments.

These technologies enable more precise radiation delivery while helping limit exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

The HDR brachytherapy unit provides targeted internal radiation treatment for selected cancers, including gynaecological and head and neck cancers.

The facility operates within an integrated cancer care framework supported by chemotherapy and surgical services, enabling multidisciplinary treatment at a single institution.

Speaking at the inauguration, JP Nadda highlighted the importance of timely cancer diagnosis and treatment, noting that patients should not be denied quality care because of their location or financial circumstances.

He also referred to the expansion of AIIMS institutions across India, with 18 of the 22 institutions mentioned in his address operational, as part of efforts to improve access to specialised healthcare.

Nadda highlighted the role of early detection through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. According to figures shared at the event, approximately 37.7 crore people have undergone oral cancer screening, with around 2.5 lakh cases detected.

Breast cancer screening has covered approximately 17.7 crore women, while cervical cancer screening has reached 9.8 crore women.

The Minister also highlighted financial support for cancer treatment. Eligible beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) can access cancer treatment at AIIMS Rajkot without charge, while other patients will receive treatment at subsidised rates.

Gujarat Minister of State for Health Praful Pansheriya welcomed the facility, while Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted the government’s broader healthcare initiatives, including more than 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and measures to improve the affordability of cancer medicines.

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