Tirupati cancer institute to be reality by next year

Tirupati: District Collector P S Pradyumna said that the first phase of Sri Venkateswara Institute of Cancer Care and Advanced Research, proposed by Tata Trusts in collaboration with the Tirumala-Tirupati Devastanams, will become operational in 2019 with state-of-the-art facilities. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will lay the foundation stone for the new facility near Alipiri in Tirupati on Friday. 

Speaking to the media, the Collector said that the Tata Trusts aimed at making an affordable, accessible and high-quality treatment and screening centre for cancer detection. They entered an MoU with TTD for the purpose during 2017 following which a special purpose vehicle ‘Alamelu Charitable Foundation’ (ACF) was set up to carry out the project. The Collector said that it will be made into the best cancer research centre in the country.

The 300-bed hospital will have 20 linear accelerators and will become centre of excellence in Radiation Oncology. It can provide accommodation for patients and their attendants by means of a dharmashala to reduce out of pocket expenses of those travelling from places across the country. 

It will help in diagnosing the disease in early stages as most of the cases are detected in late stage with poor prognosis. Former Chairman of Tata Group Ratan N Tata will participate in the programme along with the Chief Minister.

During his visit to the district, the Chief Minister will also inaugurate Anna Canteen at MR Palle in the city. Collector Pradyumna said that five Anna canteens have been planned in the city out of which works for four commenced and two have completed. Out of this one canteen will be inaugurated first.

After completion of his programmes in Tirupati, the Chief Minister will leave for Chittoor where he will inaugurate Apollo Medical College along with Apollo Chairman Prathap C Reddy. He will also perform ground breaking ceremony for the construction of Kapu Bhavan in Chittoor. District officials have made arrangements to distribute around Rs 400 crore worth of assets, regarding which discussions were being held with bankers.

In Chittoor, a mega cheque of more than Rs 3 crore meant for Kerala flood victims will be handed over to the Chief Minister by leaders of employees associations. Collector said, the education department contributed about Rs 1 crore for the project. Joint Collector PS Girisha, Corporation Commissioner V Vijayarama Raju and RDO G Narasimhulu were present in the meeting.

Tirumala media and other donors led by NTV reporter Mohan and Assistant Director, State Information Centre, Tirupati, P Thimmappa handed over a cheque for Rs 2.27 lakh to the Collector towards Kerala flood relief. Sura Lakhya (5th class) and Sura Lithi (2nd class) have contributed two DDs for Rs 5,116 each out of their personal savings. Edify School director Praneeth and Coordinator Jahnavi contributed Rs 2 lakh while Narayana group of educational institutions have handed over a cheque for Rs 8 lakh to the Collector.