Silchar, July 19: Dispur has mooted a proposal to take over the 20-year-old Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Ghoonger, 6km from here, in a bid to revamp the ailing private hospital.

Health and family welfare minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed the move yesterday to a four-member team of Congress leaders from Barak valley districts — public health engineering minister Goutam Roy, sports minister Ajit Singh, Silchar MLA Sushmita Dev and North Karimganj legislator Kamalakhya Dey Purakayastha.

After the takeover, the Cachar hospital will become the second government-owned cancer treatment centre after B. Borooah Cancer Hospital in Guwahati.

Roy quoting Sarma today said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would soon be prepared with regard to the takeover between the hospital authorities and senior government officials. Sarma had assured the delegation that after the process is completed, a government-appointed board of directors and a committee would run the hospital.

The present director of the hospital and cancer specialist Ravi Kannan and the hospital society’s general secretary Debaprasad Roy were present in yesterday’s meeting with the health minister.

The society has expressed its happiness over the government move to take over the hospital for its further development.

Hospital administrator Kalyan Chakravarty today said the 100-bed centre was reeling under financial woes and the proposed government takeover would help pave the way for its much-needed development through modernisation of its facilities.

He added the hospital treats an average of 14,000 cancer patients every year from south Assam districts and the neighbouring state of Mizoram.

According to Chakravarty, the cost of treatment at the Cachar hospital is affordable, with bed charge of Rs 120 a day, including food, and the surgery expenses, the total charges come to around Rs 16,500, except medicines.

The hospital has nine doctors, including oncologists and surgeons, and total staff strength of 150.