Chandigarh, October 16, 2025 — In a major push for public healthcare, the Punjab government’s partnership with the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) has turned cancer care into one of the state’s biggest success stories. With two advanced facilities — in New Chandigarh and Sangrur — now fully operational, thousands of cancer patients are being treated closer to home, without having to travel to Delhi or Mumbai.
The flagship project, the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Center at New Chandigarh, stands on 50 acres of land provided free by the state government. Equipped with 300 beds, modern laboratories, robotic surgery units, and radiation therapy systems, the facility is part of a ₹510-crore investment in healthcare infrastructure.
Under a long-term agreement signed with TMC in August 2025, Punjab provides the budget, equipment, and logistics while TMC manages treatment and clinical expertise. Health department officials said the collaboration has ensured that the hospitals are not just technologically advanced but also people-oriented.
Affordability remains a cornerstone of the state’s health model. Linked with both Ayushman Bharat and the Punjab Cancer Relief Fund, the hospitals offer up to ₹5 lakh worth of free treatment per patient. According to official data, around 85% of those receiving care in the two hospitals are being treated free or at highly subsidised rates.
A government official said, “What used to be a privilege for a few has now become a right for everyone. Our aim is to make world-class treatment accessible even in rural Punjab.”
In a first for any government hospital in the region, robotic surgeries were introduced this year, with the first 80 conducted free of cost. The state also plans to expand training and awareness programmes through a fresh collaboration with TMC, focusing on early screening, anti-tobacco campaigns, and doctor-nurse training in rural areas.
So far, more than 1.7 lakh people have been screened for cancer through these initiatives, earning the hospitals national recognition on Independence Day 2025. Officials, however, admit that a shortage of nurses and technicians remains a concern. The health department has started new recruitments and plans to draw staff from nursing and medical colleges to ensure both hospitals reach full operational strength soon.
Through this project, Punjab has demonstrated that large-scale public healthcare reform is possible when policy, partnerships, and purpose align. As one official put it, “The Homi Bhabha hospitals are not just buildings — they are a promise that every life in Punjab matters.”
