Tripura plans 50-bed cancer hospital in Kailashahar; minister inspects site

The Tripura government has started groundwork for a 50-bed cancer hospital in Kailashahar, aimed at bringing specialised cancer treatment to the state's northern districts.

Minister Tinku Roy on Wednesday afternoon, November 11, inspected the land identified for the project, next to the Unakoti District Hospital, according to Tripura Times and Northeast Today. He was accompanied by Unakoti Chief Medical Officer Shirshendu Chakma, District Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Rohan Paul and other Health Department officials.

Still at an early stage

The minister discussed the site, the amount of land needed, the infrastructure required and other technical questions with the health officials. He said the government was actively considering a specialised cancer treatment centre in Kailashahar as part of its plan to strengthen health services outside the capital.

Officials said the proposal is at a preliminary stage. The identified land will first be surveyed to check whether it is suitable. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) will then be prepared, setting out the scope of the hospital, its infrastructure needs, estimated cost and how it will be built. Construction will be taken up only after these steps are complete. No cost estimate or timeline has been announced yet.

Why it matters for north Tripura

At present, cancer patients from Unakoti, North Tripura and Dhalai districts usually have to travel to Agartala for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. For patients who need repeated sessions of chemotherapy or radiation, the long journeys add to the cost of treatment and the strain on families.

A hospital in Kailashahar would bring specialised cancer care much closer to people in the three districts and could ease the load on hospitals in Agartala, where the state's main cancer services are concentrated. Local residents have welcomed the move and asked for the survey and paperwork to be finished quickly, the reports said.

Cancer is a major public health concern across the North East, which has some of the highest cancer rates in India, according to national cancer registry data. Several states in the region have been expanding cancer care beyond their capitals in recent years.

What happens next

The next milestones to watch are the land survey report and the preparation of the DPR, followed by approval and funding for the project. NEInsider will update this story when the government announces the cost, funding source or a timeline for the hospital.