Bhubaneswar: Tata Trusts will set up and manage a state-of-the-art cancer treatment and research centre here.

The state government will facilitate and contribute to set up the centre, which will be benchmarked to the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, by providing 25 acres of land free of cost.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik and Tata Trusts chairman Ratan Tata made the announcement for the joint venture project here on Sunday.

"Tata Trusts has immense expertise in the field of cancer care and research. The comprehensive cancer care programme in partnership with Tata Trusts will certainly create the much-needed synergy," said Naveen, who was present at the MoU signing ceremony between his government and the trust.

Health secretary P.K. Meherda and managing trustee of Tata Trusts R. Venkatramanan signed the deal.

"Odisha is a very progressive state and we have the capacity to treat the cancer. We can work together. Odisha can become a leader in treating cancer and in saving life," said Tata stating that India had 8 to 9 million cancer patients, but early detection helped mitigate the disease.

The comprehensive cancer care programme will be set up through a three-tier network of facilities with the trust's proposed centre in Bhubaneswar and Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre in Cuttack as apex units.

"The medical colleges in the state and the district headquarters hospitals will be equipped to offer diagnostics and standardided day care chemotherapy facilities in select hospitals, additionally offering radiotherapy services," said health minister Pratap Jena.

Official sources said Rs 800 crore has been earmarked for executing and grounding the cancer care projects over the next five years.

Odisha government's share will be Rs 500 crore, while Tata Trusts has committed Rs 300 crore. Besides, the state government will also fund the operational expenses of all facilities established under the programme and will support full treatment of poor and needy patients.

The state government has decided to set programme priorities through an advisory committee headed by the chief secretary.

The MoU states that an advisory committee will recommend a special programme management entity - consisting of members of both the state government and Tata Trusts - to execute the proposed network of cancer care facilities.