Guwahati, Jan. 25: The Dr B. Borooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati will now be an affiliate of the Tata Memorial Centre for Cancer, Mumbai.

DoNER minister Jitendra Singh today announced in New Delhi that with the new arrangement coming into force from today, B. Borooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati will be an aided institute of the department of atomic energy, government of India, and will be under the management of the Tata Memorial Centre for Cancer, Mumbai.

With this, the BBCI would provide similar healthcare and academic facilities that would be of the same standards as currently available at the Tata Memorial Centre for Cancer. A tripartite MoU was signed on behalf of the North Eastern Council (NEC), department of atomic energy and Dispur, in the presence of Jitendra Singh, Dr R.A. Badwe, director of the Tata centre, and Dr A.C. Kataki, director of the BBCI.

NEC secretary Ram Muivah and representatives from the Union health ministry and the Assam government were also present on the occasion.

The present tripartite agreement has been extended for a year from April 1 this year to March 31 next year with a total financial outlay of Rs 65.65 crore.

Singh said with today's development, the BBCI has moved ahead in the direction of becoming one of the top cancer care hospitals and teaching institutes in the co-untry, and possibly the first of its kind in the eastern region.

Singh said considering the high prevalence of cancer in the Northeast, this will prove to be a great boon for the entire region, thus offering cost-effective management and absolute cure for many patients without the need to go to distant places for treatment.