Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda has inaugurated a ₹39-crore Advanced Radiotherapy Facility at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rajkot, strengthening specialised cancer treatment infrastructure across Gujarat’s Saurashtra region.

Established under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), the facility is expected to serve an estimated population of 1.54 crore people across 11 districts and manage approximately 500–700 patients annually during its initial phase.

The new infrastructure is particularly significant for patients from rural and semi-urban areas who previously had to travel to Ahmedabad or Mumbai to access advanced radiation treatment. The facility aims to reduce travel-related expenses and improve access to specialised oncology services closer to patients’ homes.

The department began providing radiotherapy and chemotherapy services on May 29, 2026, ahead of the formal inauguration.

The facility is equipped with three major technologies: a High Energy Linear Accelerator (LINAC), a Wide Bore CT Simulator and a High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy Unit.

The LINAC enables advanced radiation treatment techniques, including Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT). These technologies allow radiation to be delivered with millimetre-level accuracy, helping limit exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

The HDR Brachytherapy Unit enables targeted internal radiation treatment for selected cancers, including gynaecological and head and neck cancers. The CT Simulator supports three-dimensional imaging for treatment planning.

The Department of Radiation Oncology operates within an integrated cancer care framework supported by chemotherapy and surgical services, including head and neck, orthopaedic, gynaecological oncology and general surgery.

Expanding Affordable Cancer Treatment
Eligible beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) will be able to access cancer treatment free of cost at AIIMS Rajkot, while other patients will receive treatment at subsidised rates, according to officials.

The inauguration also highlighted the importance of early cancer detection. Government figures presented at the event showed that approximately 37.7 crore people had undergone oral cancer screening, while 17.7 crore women had been screened for breast cancer and 9.8 crore for cervical cancer through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

With an investment of ₹39 crore, AIIMS Rajkot’s advanced radiotherapy facility represents an important addition to India’s public-sector oncology infrastructure, bringing specialised treatment technology closer to underserved populations in western Gujarat.

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By MedGate Bureau

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