A first-of-its-kind dedicated cancer care system in the country was set into motion in Assam on June 18, with the ground breaking ceremony (‘bhumi pujan’) of 19 Cancer Care Centres, as part of Inclusive Cancer Care Programme, at Guwahati.
 

The Assam government and Tata Trusts would be implementing the programme, through a recently-floated joint venture Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF). The ground breaking ceremony was held at 15 out of 19 centres simultaneously on June 18, with a host of dignitaries, including Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal, Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu, Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata, MP and BJP national president Amit Shah and Assam Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma, attending the central function at Guwahati.

Speaking on the occasion, Ratan Tata pointed that cancer is a silent killer that can strike anyone and the northeastern region has high incidence of cancer. He lauded the effort of the Assam and Central government in providing affordable cancer care for all and pledged all support from Tata Trusts.