Telangana strengthens cancer care with new 300-bed oncology block at MNJ Cancer Institute

MNJ is the second-largest hospital for cancer treatment in the government sector in the country.

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The new block

The newly constructed oncology block has a total built-up area of 2.32 lakh square feet with a 300-bed capacity.

The new building is said to have exclusive daycare units, a women’s cancer wing, paediatric oncologic services, and a modernised bone-marrow transplantation ward, along with radiation oncology and surgical oncology services

The new block has increased the number of beds to 750, and the government has provided the facilities at the hospital at a cost of ₹60 crore.

“A library and a teacher will be part of the paediatric wing to ensure that the education of the children who come for treatment is not affected, and they will provide education along with treatment,” announced Harish Rao.

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Minister extols health measures

The minister also stated that previous governments had neglected to provide healthcare in view of the growing population, and super-speciality services have shown discrimination in augmentation.

Medical services have been greatly strengthened in Telangana, he said.

On the other hand, with the expansion of four TIMs, Warangal Health City, and NIMS, the government is making 10,000 super-speciality beds available, which will be available in another year.

The government is also giving great importance to medical education and will start nine more medical colleges this year, said the minister.

“Telangana will have 55 medical colleges this year, up from 20 in 2014. The government has brought 35 colleges in nine years. Medical seats will be increased to 7,990 from the earlier 2,950,” he said.

Harish Rao emphasised that people should take care of their dietary matters and exercise for good health.

He mentioned that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao helped people get clean drinking water through Mission Bhagiratha for health, implemented the Haritaram programme for air, and brought river water for agriculture with projects like Kaleswaram for clean food.

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History of MNJ Cancer Institute 

MNJ Cancer Institute was set up as the Radium Institute & Cancer Hospital and was inaugurated by India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as a near-40-bedded cancer hospital in 1955.

The bed strength increased to 250 in 1984. The Central government accorded it the status of a Regional Cancer Centre in 1996.

Currently, the MNJ Institute of Oncology & State Cancer Center is a 450 bedded comprehensive cancer care centre and the sole tertiary public referral center for the entire state of Telangana & Andhra Pradesh.

More than 12,000 new cancer patients have registered per year and more than 70,000 patients come for follow-up.

It apparently witnesses 2,400 major surgeries and 3,600 minor surgeries per year.

Every day, 500 patients are given radiotherapy and about 500 patients are being given chemotherapy.

More than 1.5 lakh cancer-related investigations are done every year.

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