The Indo-American Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Hyderabad, has added four new facilities to improve medical expertise and patient care in the treatment of cancer. The new facilities are a one-stop centre for the treatment of cancers of the gut called 'Gut Clinic', a pediatric oncology unit to deal with cancers affecting children, Athidhi, a facility for patients and those accompanying them and an Indo-American School of Nursing.

The Gut Clinic has been equipped with the latest technology, including intra-operative radiotherapy-dual energy linear accelerator, which is the only one of its kind in Andhra Pradesh. It is very useful in the management of gastric and pancreatic cancers. The pediatric oncology unit would also be the first in the state. The cancer Institute is promoted by the US-based Indo-American Cancer Organisation and the Nandamuri Basava Tarakaram Memorial Cancer Foundation, in memory of NTR's wife.

Inaugurating Athidhi, Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj said she was impressed by the state-of-the-art equipment available at the institute. Complimenting the Institute for its service to the needy, she compared it to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital in Mumbai and AIIMS in New Delhi. She said in terms of technology and other facilities, the service at the institute was superior to those at Tata Memorial and AIIMS. The Minister said modern buildings and costly equipment alone would not make a good hospital. Its credibility and popularity was dependant on the dedication of the doctors and the supporting staff to provide the best service and care to the patients.

Sushma Swaraj said private participation was essential to deal with major health problems like cancer. Though the government was doing its best to educate and enlighten the people, considering the vastness of the country and the huge amount needed, it alone could not solve all health problems. Pointing out that the Institute was a milestone in the
private sector, she promised that she would consider the management's request for financial help to set up screening and other facilities.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who inaugurated the Indo-American School of Nursing, asked the Health Minister to extend necessary help to the institute so that poor patients would be immensely benefited. In the past two-and-a-half years, the institute established a name for itself in providing cancer treatment at very low cost.

Naidu said the incidence of cancer was very high in the country with around 160 people per lakh being affected by it. Gastro-intestinal cancers were particularly on the rise in all the states, he said. State Health Minister Dr Kodela Sivaprasada Rao said the new block for attendants was set up a cost of Rs 40 lakh. He said Rs 4-5 crore was needed to set up a permanent cancer screening centre and other facilities. TD Parliamentary Party leader K Yerran Naidu, Indo-American Cancer Organisation Chairperson Dr Tulsi Devi Polavarapu and Cancer Institute Director Ch Mohasn Vamasi spoke about the activities and achievements of the institute in a short period.