Ambala: Since its start in May 2022 to July 2024, Atal Cancer Care Centre (ACCC) in Ambala Cantonment, has recorded registration of over 46,077 patients in its out-patient department (OPD), where the specialist doctors diagnose the nature of deadly disease and start the treatment.
This is completely a government-run three floor facility, which is part of Civil Hospital of Ambala Cantt, one of the dream projects of former Haryana home and health minister Anil Vij, who is MLA here. This facility was inaugurated by the then Rajya Sabha MP and BJP chief JP Nadda in the presence of former Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Vij and late Ambala MP Rattan Lal Kataria on May 9, 2022.
Out of the patients registered at the OPD, 6717 cancer patients have been provided indoor treatment by the doctors at this facility, which is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. Specialist doctors of the field of neurosurgery, radiation oncology, gastro onco surgery, general surgery, plastic surgery, etc. are deputed by the government at this hospital to provide cancer treatment to the patients.
Dr Yashpal Verma, Director, ACCC, Ambala Cantt, a radiation oncologist said that they are receiving patients from different parts of the region including Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Pehowa, Lalru, Mohali, Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir also.
“Initially, we received 60 per cent of patients in the advanced stage but now 50 per cent of advance and 50 per cent of first stage also. In the year 2023, this hospital has provided free medicine worth about Rs 1 crore to the cancer patients. We also organise awareness campaigns in house and in the field also”, said Dr Yashpal Verma.
To a query about the type of cancer patients received at the hospital, Dr Yashpal said, “One third are related to tobacco use with head, neck, oral cavity and lung problems. One third are of breast cancer and the rest arerelated to intestine, uterus, prostate, and others. There are multifactorial reasons for the cause of cancer related to genetics, environmental reasons, tobacco, human papillomavirus, chemical carcinogens and others”, said Dr Yashpal.
About the benefits provided to cancer patients, Dr Yashpal said they are provided bus, train and air passes for travelling for their treatment, aid through chief minister relief fund, treatment under Ayushman scheme, and stage 3 and 4 patients are given benefits under Haryana government financial assistance scheme.
About the facility, Dr Yashpal said, it is a 50-bedded cancer care centre having 18 beds in ward, 14 for day care, 10 ICU beds and others.
He said the hospital is equipped with a linear accelerator, brachytherapy machine, CT simulator, CUSA (Cavitron Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator), endoscopy, sophisticated microscopy, etc.
Asked if all the sanctioned posts are filled at ACCC, Ambala Cantt, Dr Yashpal said, “The government is in the process of hiring doctors on some vacant posts and the procedure is ongoing. Soon, we would fill the vacant slots.”
Sources also highlighted some manpower shortage, electricity generator maintenance issue which caused non-functioning of operation theatre for some days recently and other such issues at this facility.
