Central Government Greenlights Expansion of Swami Ram Cancer Hospital

The Central government has approved the expansion of Swami Ram Cancer Hospital in Haldwani, including the felling of 44 trees. The project, worth Rs 103.6565 crore, will offer comprehensive cancer care and feature advanced diagnostic facilities, with completion planned in two phases.

The Central government has given in-principle approval for the expansion of Swami Ram Cancer Hospital in Haldwani. The Ministry of Forest and Environment also sanctioned the felling of 44 trees for the hospital's expansion.

Health Secretary Dr. R Rajesh Kumar stated that the expanded hospital will allow cancer patients to undergo comprehensive testing and receive top-notch treatment at a single location. This will eliminate the need for patients to seek treatment in other cities. Kumar added that a project worth Rs 103.6565 crore was approved for establishing the State Cancer Institute Haldwani, with Rs 69 crore already released to the state government in 2021.

The state government has approved a total of 152 posts, with a proposal for an additional 255 essential posts under consideration. Kumar highlighted that thanks to the efforts of CM Dhami and Health Minister Dhan Singh Rawat, land acquisition and other formalities for the first phase of construction have been completed.

Kumar elaborated that the hospital's construction will be executed in two phases. The first phase will commence with the construction of the ward and service blocks, alongside the procurement of state-of-the-art equipment. In the second phase, diagnostic blocks, nuclear medicine, preventive oncology, and other specialty departments will be established.

He further mentioned that the facility will include 31 departments, advanced machinery for cancer therapy, and comprehensive diagnostic services such as CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds. The expanded hospital will also feature a blood bank, pathology lab, microbiology, and biochemistry labs, with a total of 196 beds across both phases. Additionally, a night shelter with 141 beds will be built for long-term treatment patients and their attendants. Kumar noted that the central government had regularized the campus built on 1.75 hectares of forest land for the hospital in September 2022.

An appeal for permission to fell 44 trees to facilitate the first phase of construction was approved by the central government's Ministry of Forest and Environment. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)