IT firm Mindtree’s co-founder and Odisha Skill Development Authority chairman Subroto Bagchi and his wife Susmita, who is chairman of Mo School (My School) Abhiyan, have pledged Rs 210 crore for a cancer hospital and another Rs 130 crore for establishment of a palliative care centre, both in Bhubaneswar.
A meeting of the Odisha cabinet chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday gave its nod to the establishment of the cancer hospital and palliative care centre.
“Susmita and I will donate 340 crores to bring @karunashraya to set up a world class palliative care unit and @shankaracancer for a cutting–edge cancer hospital. Deeply grateful @CMO_Odisha for the shared vision and support. Odisha will soon emerge as a leading oncology player in India,” tweeted Bagchi.
Sri Shankara Cancer Care Foundation and Karunashraya Hospice Trust are Bangalore-based charitable organisations.
The cancer hospital will be named Bagchi-Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Institute while the other facility will be called Bagchi Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre.
The Odisha government will provide land for the establishment of these two units.
The cancer hospital will initially have 250 beds and will be made operational by January 2024. It will be later expanded to a 500-bed hospital. The hospital will have 25 per cent beds reserved for free treatment and another 25 per cent beds will be set aside for patients supported under different government health schemes.
The rest of the patients will pay for the services and the revenue generated will be utilised for the expansion of the hospital and supporting the poor patients. It will be an oncology centre of excellence with academic and research facilities, officials said.
“The cancer hospital will provide advanced cutting-edge cancer care and evidence–based management of cancer cases,” an official said.
The palliative care centre will have 100 beds. The centre will provide holistic palliative care and all patients will receive free service.