
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurates Gujarat's largest private cancer centre at HCG Aastha Cancer Centre, Ahmedabad
The new facility combines advanced technology, enhanced capacity, and holistic care, reaffirming HCG's commitment to accessible, world-class oncology in Gujarat
In a noteworthy development for cancer care in Gujarat,
Bhupendra Patel
, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, inaugurated the expanded
HCG Aastha Cancer Centre
in its new premises opposite Bhagwat Vidyapith, Sola. Now the largest private comprehensive cancer care centre in the state, the inauguration was attended by HCG's senior leadership, Dr BS Ajaikumar, Raj Gore, Dr Bharat Gadhavi, and Sudharshan Bhamare, marking a significant leap forward in delivering accessible, world-class oncology care to the region.
With increased capacity, next-generation technology, and a holistic care model, the upgraded facility reinforces HCG Aastha Cancer Centre Ahmedabad's commitment to delivering integrated, high-impact
cancer treatment
to patients across Gujarat and beyond.
With a 217-bed capacity, a 140 per cent increase from its previous strength, the hospital is now equipped to handle significantly higher patient volumes with enhanced efficiency and personalised care.
This includes 23 surgical ICU beds, 10 medical ICU beds, 23 daycare beds, 16 pre- and post-operative beds, and 6 Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) units. This capacity boost will enable the hospital to manage a projected 30-40 per cent increase in patient footfall, translating to over 55,000 outpatient visits and 9,000 inpatient admissions annually.
Backed by a multidisciplinary team of over 100 in-house doctors, the centre offers seamless, end-to-end care across surgical, medical, and radiation oncology, nuclear medicine, paediatric haemato-oncology, and advanced diagnostics.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhupendra Patel, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, said,
'The launch of the HCG Aastha Cancer Centre in Ahmedabad is a significant step forward in making advanced cancer care more accessible. With its cutting-edge technology, the hospital provides excellent cancer treatment. The expertise of the hospital's highly experienced and dedicated team will significantly benefit the patients.
I also applaud HCG for setting up a trust to support needy patients.'
The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of healthy living, saying, 'Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has ensured the availability of comprehensive health initiatives—from yoga to Ayushman Bharat. Everyone should pay attention to their lifestyle to maintain good health.'
Dr BS Ajaikumar, Executive Chairman, Healthcare Global Enterprises Limited, said, 'At HCG, our core philosophy has always been to deliver the right treatment the first time.
We believe that quality cancer care should never be limited by geography. The expansion of HCG Aastha Cancer Centre in Ahmedabad is not merely an infrastructure milestone — it is a reaffirmation of our commitment to making advanced, evidence-based oncology accessible to every patient, no matter where they live.
This centre brings together cutting-edge technology, organ-specific expertise, and a deeply compassionate care model, setting the benchmark for the future of cancer treatment.
In this era of precision medicine, we are increasingly focused on leveraging genomics and proteomics to better understand tumour biology and guide personalised therapies. This approach enables us to improve outcomes, even in advanced and recurrent cases. With this facility, we strengthen our resolve to make high-quality cancer care more accessible, affordable, and outcome-driven — not just for Gujarat, but for all of India.'
Raj Gore, CEO, Healthcare Global Enterprises Limited, added, 'The launch of the new premise with the upgraded facility at HCG Aastha Cancer Centre marks a strategic milestone in our ongoing mission to redefine cancer care in India. This facility not only reinforces our leadership in oncology but also aligns with our long-term vision to make world-class, technology and quality-driven cancer treatment more accessible.
By integrating advanced modalities such as robotic-assisted surgeries with the expertise of our multidisciplinary teams, we aim to set new benchmarks in precision oncology and improve patient outcomes across the region.'
Dr Bharat Gadhavi, Regional Director, HCG Group of Hospitals, Gujarat and Rajasthan
,
added, 'This state-of-the-art centre integrates cutting-edge clinical infrastructure, efficient processes, and a dedicated team to deliver more effective and personalised treatment.
With this expansion, we are better equipped to offer patients the specialised care they need for improved outcomes. Since beginning its journey in Gujarat in 2007, HCG has established comprehensive cancer care facilities in Rajkot, Bhavnagar, and Vadodara.
This new facility further strengthens our commitment to providing holistic cancer care under one roof, becoming a hub for managing complex and recurrent cases.'
Sudharshan Bhamare, COO, HCG Astha Cancer Centre
, Ahmedabad,
added, 'This centre has been a conscious investment to meet the growing cancer care needs of Gujarat. From increasing bed strength to introducing specialised ICUs and surgical units, every aspect has been designed to handle more complex cases efficiently. This enhanced centre also enables us to reduce wait times, enhance patient comfort, and offer advanced treatments under one roof.'
The centre continues to elevate its precision-led treatment approach through the integration of advanced technologies — including robotic surgery for GI, urological, and gynaecological cancers, Gujarat's first Tomo Therapy unit, and scalp cooling technology to help reduce chemotherapy-induced hair loss — a regional first. In addition to clinical upgrades, the expanded facility enhances its patient support ecosystem with services such as genetic counselling, multilingual international patient assistance, home and palliative care, and peer-led survivor support groups facilitated by the HCG Foundation and Ahmedabad Cancer Foundation.
With this landmark expansion, HCG Aastha Cancer Centre, Ahmedabad, not only strengthens its leadership in oncology but also sets a new benchmark for patient-centric, compassionate innovation in cancer care for Gujarat and beyond.
Disclaimer - The above content is non-editorial, and TIL hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to it, and does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the content.
Stay informed with the latest
business
news, updates on
bank holidays
and
public holidays
.
Master Value & Valuation with ET! Learn to invest smartly & decode financials. Limited seats at 33% off – Enroll now!
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Haryana IMA seeks clarity on State govt.'s cashless treatment scheme for accident victims
In the wake of the Haryana Health Department's order to onboard all hospitals for a cashless road accident victims treatment scheme, the State chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has sought clarity on its various aspects, including the rates prescribed for the treatment. The scheme, launched in Haryana earlier this year as a pilot project along with five other States, had failed to take off after the private hospitals backed out of it citing several reasons, including the meagre treatment rates. In a letter to the Director General Health Services (DGHS) seeking clarification on the various aspects of the scheme, the Haryana IMA has sought details about the rates prescribed for the services such as consultation, ICU charges, room rent; the mode of payment; procedure for the empanelment of non-Ayushman Hospitals and access to the portal for the registration of these cases. The DGHS has directed all civil surgeons to onboard all hospitals for the scheme, especially those not empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat. Under the scheme, notified by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in 2025, the road accident victims would be administered cashless emergency care of up to ₹1.5 lakh with a cap of maximum of seven days. The scheme is applicable across all categories of roads including National and State Highways and municipal roads. Former IMA chief Ajay Mahajan told The Hindu over phone that the government had earlier offered very low rates, only ₹1,000 per day including ICU charges, surgery, medicines and the investigations expenses. 'It is a good scheme and could help save road accident victims offering timely treatment. But the rates offered earlier were not practical. Many Ayushaman empanelled hospitals came forward, but had to back out due to very low rates and delayed payments. The road accident victims suffer multiple injuries and might require a lot of investigations such as frequent MRI. So, this scheme failed to take off in Haryana and now DGHS has asked civil surgeons to enrol other hospitals too. But there is no clarity on how the hospitals would be paid. This is bound to fail again,' said Dr. Mahajan. 'Meagre payment' In March too, the IMA had written to the DGHS after the launch of the scheme expressing concerns over low rates and lack of clarity on various issues. 'Unfortunately, at present the pilot project is being launched in Haryana without proper preparations. There are no proper guidelines on how the payments will be made, no separate MoU has been done and few cases that have been claimed are being paid a measly sum of ₹1,000 per day for general ward for a head injury case in Intensive Care Unit,' the letter had read. DGHS Manish Bansal did not respond to calls and text messages to seek his response.


Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
IMA seeks clarity on emergency scheme for road accident victims in Haryana
Gurgaon: Indian Medical Association (IMA)'s Haryana chapter on Friday sought immediate clarification about the cashless treatment pertaining to road accident victims. In fact, private hospitals, which have been roped in, are flagging a lack of clarity on operational guidelines, payment mechanisms and treatment rates. The development comes against the backdrop of a statewide rollout of Haryana's cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims, which has been facing serious roadblocks. The scheme, aimed at ensuring free emergency care for accident victims during the crucial first seven days or up to Rs 1.5 lakh, was earlier restricted to Ayushman Bharat-empanelled hospitals. However, with limited participation due to extremely low reimbursement rates and infrastructure constraints, directorate general of health services (DGHS), Haryana, issued fresh instructions on June 4 to onboard non-Ayushman hospitals as well. In a letter addressed to DGHS, IMA has sought guidelines on how the new hospitals will be empanelled, which portal will be used to register and track patients and how payments will be made. IMA has requested DGHS to immediately issue a detailed guideline outlining onboarding steps, financial coverage, payment timelines and rate revisions to ensure that hospitals can realistically provide care without suffering financial losses. IMA Haryana president Dr Mahaveer P Jain told TOI, 'There is no clarity on who will pay for these services, how the bills will be submitted or processed, or what rates will be given for ICUs, surgeries or diagnostic tests.' 'Without this, the scheme will collapse before it starts,' Jain said. IMA has also flagged the Ayushman Bharat rates — under which hospitals are expected to provide comprehensive trauma care at around Rs 1,000 per day, including medicines, ICU care and CT/MRI scans — as completely unviable. 'This was the main reason the scheme failed to take off earlier in Haryana,' former IMA president Dr Ajay Mahajan said. 'The state is now asking more hospitals to join, but without fixing the fundamental flaws,' Mahajan said. The recent directive by DGHS to involve other hospitals is seen as an attempt to revive the programme. But without a standard operating procedure (SOP), notification system for hospitals, or clear reimbursement policy, medical professionals say it's set up for another failure. 'Unless the state addresses these gaps swiftly, it's just another policy on paper. Meanwhile, lives that could have been saved continue to be lost,' Dr IMA Haryana secretary Dhirendar K Soni said. A senior official from DGHS (Haryana) said, 'The objective is to ensure no road accident victim is denied emergency care due to lack of financial resources. We are actively working on streamlining the onboarding process for non-Ayushman hospitals and will soon issue clear SOPs, including case registration protocols and payment mechanisms.' Additional chief secretary, health and family welfare, Sudhir Rajpal on June 4 chaired a review meeting on the implementation of the scheme aimed at providing free and cashless emergency medical treatment to road accident victims across the state. During the meeting, it was informed that all hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) are by default automatically included under the road accident treatment scheme. However, it was highlighted that a greater number of hospitals need to be brought on board to ensure that accident victims receive timely and quality care at the nearest available health facility. The scheme showed promising results during a pilot project conducted at IIT Chennai, where full govt funding for the first week of post-accident treatment helped significantly reduce fatalities. Inspired by this, the Centre rolled it out in five states — including Haryana — under the condition that only Ayushman-empanelled hospitals would be included. However, this restriction, combined with low package rates, limited the scheme's effectiveness. As traffic accident numbers continue to rise, healthcare professionals warn that any further delay in resolving these issues could prove fatal — not just for victims on the road, but for the credibility of the state's emergency healthcare initiatives. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !


India Gazette
11 hours ago
- India Gazette
WHO DG holds talks with PM's Secy on partnership at Global Traditional Medicine Centre
Geneva [Switzerland] June 6 (ANI): Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday (local time) held talks with PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister where they discussed their partnership on the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, outposted in Jamnagar. Ghebreyesus thanked Mishra for India's leadership on the Pandemic Accord adoption, and support of increased assessed contributions to WHO's work to advance health for all. 'Had good meeting with P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to PMO India, on the many areas of close collaboration between WHO and India. We discussed our partnership on the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, outposted in Jamnagar, which will help the world benefit from the potential of traditional medicine and complement modern approaches to health. I thanked Dr Mishra for India's leadership on the Pandemic Accord adoption, and support of increased assessed contributions to WHO's work to advance Health for All. I also commended India for its investment in health care infrastructure, the 'Ayushman Bharat' scheme to expand universal health coverage, and in digital health.' Mishra also held talks with Hara Hiroaki, Vice-Minister for Policy Coordination of Japan, on margins of Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025. In a post on X, the Indian Permanent Mission at Geneva stated, 'Fruitful discussions between Principal Secretary to PM Dr. P.K Mishra and Mr. Hara Hiroaki, Vice-Minister for Policy Coordination of Japan, on margins of GPDRR 2025. Explored enhanced India-Japan collaboration on disaster resilience and exchanging expertise in risk reduction strategies.' Mishra also held talks on disaster preparedness with Major General Ariunbuyan Gombojav, Chief of National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia, on the sidelines of GPDRR 2025. 'Principal Secretary to PM Dr. P.K Mishra meets with Major General Ariunbuyan Gombojav, Chief of National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia, on the sidelines of GPDRR 2025. Valuable exchange on disaster preparedness strategies and exploring opportunities for India-Mongolia cooperation in DRR.' Mishra also held talks with Head of UNDRR Kamal Kishore on strengthening India's disaster risk reduction partnerships and advancing global resilience frameworks. Meanwhile, BIMSTEC countries convened at the High-Level UNDRR-BIMSTEC event on the margins of GPDRR 2025 in Geneva. India's head of delegation to GPDRR, Principal Secretary to PM PK Mishra, highlighted the role of the BIMSTEC Centre for Disaster Management, as announced by PM Narendra Modi at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, to accelerate the region's implementation of the Sendai Framework. (ANI)