Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda conducted a detailed review of cancer care services and broader tertiary health infrastructure in West Bengal, focusing on institutions in and around Kolkata during a two-day official visit to the state.
On the first day, he toured the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) at its Newtown campus, where he examined the condition of wards and other clinical facilities alongside Education Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar, and signalled approval of the standard of care being provided.
At the institute, he highlighted key achievements including CNCI’s distinction as the first government cancer hospital in the country to obtain National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) certification, and its unique position in West Bengal as a government facility holding National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation across all laboratory units. The institute’s evolution into a major regional oncology centre with extensive bed capacity, hospice and palliative care services, research capabilities, and academic programmes was noted as evidence of its expanding role in cancer treatment and education.
Later the same day, he visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Kalyani where he reviewed ongoing health service functions and officially dedicated newly completed advanced medical facilities. These include fully operational trauma and emergency medicine services backed by modern radiotherapy infrastructure such as a linear accelerator, high dose rate brachytherapy units and a CT simulator, all meant to bolster comprehensive cancer-related care in the region. A pneumatic tube system designed to speed and secure the internal transfer of critical biological samples was also inaugurated.
He then presided over a strategic review meeting with senior administrators to assess current clinical services, patient volumes, and future development plans for the institute, underscoring the central government’s stated commitment to improving accessibility, affordability and quality of healthcare under the national policy direction.
JP Nadda’s visit, which began on January 8, included evaluations of how these facilities support the overarching goal of expanding advanced healthcare and cancer treatment closer to patients’ homes in West Bengal.
Also Read