KDAH announces series of investments in comprehensive cancer treatment

Rolls out comprehensive cancer care programme across 18 cancer centres in Maharashtra; launches Edge radio surgery system

Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (KDAH) will set up 18 cancer care centres across the state of Maharashtra. The hospital also announced the launch of Edge radio surgery system, a first-of-its-kind treatment in South Asia, which will offer a precise, non-invasive alternative to conventional cancer surgery. All these were announced in the presence of Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, Maharashtra.

Further, KDAH will acquire 18 advanced TrueBeam medical linear accelerators to equip the new cancer centres across Maharashtra. The first of these centres are expected in Akola, Gondia and Solapur to be operational during 2017. The rest of the roll out is aimed to be completed in the next couple of years.

Congratulating KDAH management, Fadnavis said, “This announcement will take the fight against cancer to the next level. We need more and more institutes to take the initiative in advancement in healthcare.”

Tina Ambani, Chairperson, KDAH said, “The launch of Edge and the announcement of 18 cancer centres across the state not only represents a significant milestone in our journey but reaffirms KDAH’s endeavour to make international innovations available and accessible to all Indians. Cancer is one of the biggest public health challenges of our times and we are ready to tackle it head on with our medical talent and world-class technology.”

The evolution in advanced radio surgery was facilitated in the presence of radiation oncology specialists Dr M Salim U Siddiqui from Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, and Professor Carlo Greco, MD, Director of Clinical Research at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown (CCU) in Lisbon, Portugal. The doctors have been in India to share their knowledge and expertise in the new technology among leading oncologists from across India.

Highlighting the benefits of Edge radio surgery to patients across the country, Dr Kaustav Talapatra, Head -Radiation Oncology, KDAH, said, “This non-invasive technique use a GPS-enabled tracking device that helps the radiologist constantly track the movement of affected cells even as the treatment is being delivered, which allows for treatment at affected areas with a high degree of accuracy. This precision radiation provides huge advantages in term of convenience, cost and comfort for patients as the number of sessions reduces significantly, with no incision or hospital stay, thereby enabling them to return to their normal lives within 15-30 minutes or less.”

“This is a major investment programme by KDAH to remain ahead of the curve in adopting latest technologies in line with the best global practises in the area of Cancer care across the state of Maharashtra,” says Ashok Kakkar, Senior Managing Director, Varian India.

EH News Bureau