OPD services begin at Tezpur Cancer Centre; First patient, a landless farmer, treated free-of-cost

Our Correspondent

TEZPUR: A 42-year-old landless farmer from Bordubi, Thelamara of Sonitpur district was all thankful and full of gratitude as he walked out of Tezpur Cancer Centre after consulting with the doctors there on Friday. He was the first patient at the Tezpur Cancer Centre which opened its OPD services today after it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a virtual ceremony from Dibrugarh on Thursday.

The farmer was diagnosed as a case of carcinoma colon and was operated at Dr. B Borooah Cancer Institute in 2021. He is the only earning member of his family which comprises of his mother, wife and two children. A landless farmer, he can no longer work now due to fatigue. He was unable to go to Guwahati for further treatment due to severe financial constraints. He had to spend nearly Rs 4,500 for every visit during his evaluation and treatment, which used to be twice a week.

Today, he was the first patient to be registered at Tezpur Cancer Centre and he had to only pay an amount of Rs.10 for registration. His consultation fees were waived and medicines were provided free of cost. He was given the required consultation and further treatment has been planned. His future treatment costs will be covered under Atal Amrit Abhiyan/ Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. He expressed his gratitude that he no longer has to go to Guwahati for therapy.

The L3 centre at Tezpur is a day care centre which will cater to patients who do not require admission or surgery and need treatment with radiation and chemotherapy. The doctors at the centre attended to 11 patients at the centre on the first day of its opening.

The centre is equipped with all the modern diagnostic equipments like X-ray, Mammography, CT Scan, MRI, Bronchoscopy, along with a Haematological and Biochemical Laboratory for testing of blood and urine. A cancer patient can now get Radiation and Chemotherapy within Tezpur and will no longer have to travel outside the district for treatment. For radiation Brachytherapy and LINAC units have been installed which are the most advanced in the world today and sufficient infrastructure for administration of Chemotherapy drugs is also available.

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