‘Medical procedure can precisely target tumours’
Panaji: The Goa Medical College and Hospital in Bambolim is likely to get a proton therapy facility – a type of radiation therapy that uses a beam of protons to destroy cancerous and non-cancerous tumour cells.
“The next big project that might come up in the GMC is the proton therapy unit. It will be one of its kinds in the west zone,” said GMC dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar.
Stating that proton therapy can cure cancer including brain tumours, Dr Bandekar said, “Discussions are on to get the proton therapy facility in the GMC.”
Unlike the traditional radiation therapy, proton therapy can precisely target tumours with minimum damage to the surrounding healthy tissues.
While replying to his felicitation accorded to him on the occasion of his birthday by his friends and well-wishers in the city, Dr Bandekar also spoke of the tertiary cancer care centre (TCCC) at the GMC.
“It will have almost all the advanced facilities just like Tata Memorial Hospital,” he said.
Stating that the project cost is around Rs 300 crore, the dean said that it will be ready in 2026. “We are just monitoring it.”
In April this year, the state cabinet gave its approval for the construction of TCCC. The construction cost itself is little more than Rs 150 crore while the procurement of equipment is estimated to cost nearly Rs 100 crore.
