Assam has approved a ₹600-crore Proton Beam Therapy Centre in Guwahati, which is expected to become India’s first government-sector proton beam therapy facility.

What is Proton Beam Therapy?

• Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) is an advanced form of radiation therapy that uses positively charged proton particles to target tumours. 
• Unlike conventional radiation, proton beams can be precisely controlled to deposit most of their energy near the tumour, potentially reducing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

Key Features

• The centre will be established at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and is expected to take at least three years to become operational.
• The project will cost approximately ₹600 crore, with ₹315 crore through a World Bank loan and ₹285 crore contributed by the Assam Government.
• The investment will cover the proton therapy machine, construction of the facility and specialised training of healthcare personnel.
• The facility will make Assam the third state in India to have a PBT centre, after facilities in Mumbai and Chennai, while becoming the first in the government healthcare sector.

Assam’s Cancer-Care Ecosystem

• Assam has been expanding its cancer-care infrastructure through collaboration between the State Government and the Tata Trusts.
• The State Cancer Institute at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital has 350 beds . 
  • It provides radiation therapy, chemotherapy, robotic surgery, nuclear medicine and bone marrow transplantation, besides academic and research facilities.

Exam Hook: Prelims Question

Consider the following statements about Proton Beam Therapy:

1. It uses proton particles for treating certain cancers.
2. It is a form of radiation therapy.
3. Its precise energy deposition can potentially reduce radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Answer: 1, 2 and 3.

One-line wrap: Assam’s proposed proton beam therapy centre can strengthen public cancer care, promote medical tourism and position Guwahati as a specialised healthcare hub for the Northeast.