GUWAHATI, April 14: In a landmark move for healthcare in the region, Assam has launched Northeast India’s first robotic surgery facility dedicated to cancer care. The state-of-the-art unit was inaugurated on Sunday by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the State Cancer Institute of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.
“Assam is beginning Bohag celebrations by dedicating North East India’s first ever onco-robotic surgery facility at the Guwahati Medical College. Our government hospitals will now offer low-cost, highly precise and least invasive oncological surgical procedures through MADE IN INDIA machinery,” the Chief Minister stated in a post on X after the event.
The new facility, set up at a cost of ₹14.99 crore under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS), marks a major advancement in the state’s healthcare capabilities.
Equipped with advanced 3D visualisation technology, superior control systems, and unmatched precision tools, the facility is expected to significantly enhance the outcomes of cancer surgeries, officials said.
The Chief Minister also announced plans to extend similar robotic surgery facilities to Silchar and Dibrugarh, ensuring broader access to advanced cancer treatment throughout Assam.
In addition, the state government is actively addressing the growing demand for skilled healthcare professionals to operate sophisticated medical equipment. Sarma revealed plans to establish nursing colleges in all cancer hospitals across the state, aiming to ensure adequate manpower to support advanced healthcare services.
