The Hindu Business Line : Tatas to set up advanced cancer centre in Kolkata

FIGHT AGAINST CANCER: The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (right), the Tata Group Chairman, Mr Ratan Tata (left), and the Vice-Chairman, Tata Tea, Mr R.K. Krishna Kumar (centre), at the foundation stone unveiling programme of Tata Medical Centre in Kolkata on Tuesday. — A. Roy Chowdhury

Kolkata , Feb. 21

TATAS are replicating the Mumbai-based Tata Memorial Centre by setting up a 150-bed advanced cancer treatment centre in the city at a cost of Rs 120 crore on a 10-acre plot.

The foundation stone of this institution, which has been named Tata Medical Centre, was unveiled by the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, and the Chairman of Tata Sons, Mr Ratan Tata.

According to Mr Tata, the new centre would have a research facility and it would work on "frontier research in cancer". He wished that this centre would be a world-class institution and would cater to eastern India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.

Mr Bhattacharjee said the Tatas have asked for another six acres adjacent to the existing plot for future expansion. He said the matter would be taken up soon with the respective department.

The hospital would be set up by a newly created trust called Tata Medical Centre Trust and it is being funded by three trusts - Sir Dorab Trust, Sir Rata Tata Trust and Jamsetji Trust - and other Tata companies.

A governing body will manage the functions of this hospital. A tele-medicine programme would be there between this hospital and the Mumbai centre. Mr R.K. Krishna Kumar, a Director of Tata Sons, would head this new trust.

"The centre will be a tertiary care centre for cancer and will promote prevention, cure, rehabilitation and palliative care. It would also offer diagnostic and therapeutic services," Mr Krishna Kumar said.

The hospital will be built in two phases and will have a total cover area of 42,872 square feet. It will have three operation theatres, a medical oncology therapy unit and a bone marrow transplantation facility. Half the beds would be free for poor patients.

CannonDesign, a Canadian firm, is providing technical assistance to the Tatas for building this hospital. Mr Krishna Kumar said this firm is a leader and has built several cancer hospitals all over the globe.