Imphal: Chief Minister N. Biren Singh Friday inaugurated multi-specialty services at American Oncology Institute (AOI) at Babina Specialty Hospital.
The formal inauguration programme was held at the campus of Babina Specialty Hospital, Sajiwa Jail Road, Imphal East. The Chief Minister also laid the Foundation Stone for construction of Babina Multi-Specialty Hospital.
Along with the comprehensive cancer care facility, the hospital has now expanded its services to specialty departments like Neurology, Urology, Critical Care, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, etc to improve specialty care services in the State.
Speaking on the occasion, N. Biren Singh lauded the officials of Babina Specialty Hospital for their support and cooperation during the 2nd wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic by admitting many positive patients for treatment even before the inauguration of the hospital itself.
The humanitarian service of the hospital had eased the hardship faced by people due to non-availability of beds during the pandemic, he added. He also expressed satisfaction on learning that the hospital had so far provided treatment facilities to more than 200 patients under PMJAY and over 500 patients under the CMHT Scheme.
The Chief Minister continued the construction of the specialty hospital mostly by engaging local machineries including architects, labourers, electricians etc have made the initiatives towards Atmanirbhar Bharat a success in the State. He further informed that the State is coming up with a cancer hospital at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences very soon as the construction of the same had already started.
N. Biren further mentioned that the opening of the Oncology Institute in the State would help in addressing the financial problems faced by cancer patients and their families for treatment outside the State.
Regarding the recent gradual increase in the total positivity rate of COVID-19 cases in the State, he informed that screening of people entering the State had already started at certain entry points.
Stating that free vaccination for precautionary doses for persons within the age group of 18 to 60 years had been launched Friday, the Chief appealed to the public to get vaccinated as the vaccination would help in preventing the infection of the virus.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Sapam Ranjan, while delivering his speech, stated that the rate of getting infected with cancer had been gradually increasing thereby reaching an alarming situation, as many of our near and dear ones had become victims of cancer.
He spoke about the revenue drained out from the State due to treatment of cancer patients outside the State. However, with the opening of the specialty hospital, the hardship faced by the people would be eased a little as the State would be having the facility of treatment.
He appreciated the initiative of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to lessen the expenditure borne by people in medical treatment by giving the healthcare sector as the first priority of his governance.
Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Minister L. Sushindro Meitei, Group CEO, Cancer Treatment Services International Dr. Jagprag Singh Gujral, Chairman and MD, Babina Healthcare Dr. Thangjam Dhabali, officials of AOI and Babina Healthcare also attended the programme among others.
