Kohima/Guwahati: The Tata Trusts on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Nagaland government to roll out a cancer care programme in collaboration with the public healthcare system of the state, a release from the Tata Trusts said.

The programme will integrate with the existing plans of the state on cancer screening, palliative care and tobacco control with a three-tiered model of treatment delivery.

Besides developing the Naga Hospital Authority in Kohima, the model envisages building capabilities in select district hospitals at Mon, Mokokchung, Phek and Tuensang so that patients do not have to travel more than a few hours to access the entire range of cancer care services.

The MoU was signed between the Tata Trusts senior adviser Burzis Taraporevala and Nagaland health and family welfare commissioner and secretary Himato Zhimomi, the release said.

Speaking on the occasion, Taraporevala said, "Nagaland is among the states that have the highest per capita burden of cancer in India. Through the partnership, we aim to provide the much-needed impetus by making cancer care accessible and affordable, and help in awareness and early diagnosis."

The Tata Trusts and the Nagaland government will establish a joint venture - Nagaland Cancer Care Foundation -- and the collaboration will build on the public healthcare system to make cancer care accessible and affordable, it said. "The model is centred on the use of technology and building capabilities of the existing workforce to facilitate operations in remote areas and patient-centric design principles to provide a good in-hospital experience to patients and care-givers."

Recently, the Tata Trusts partnered with the Assam government to operationalise the Assam Cancer Care Foundation by laying the foundation stones of 19 modern cancer care facilities. It is also in talks with the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Telangana to establish similar cancer care networks. PTI