AIIMS Rajkot on 2 November 2026 inaugurated a ₹39-crore advanced cancer radiotherapy facility, ending the need for patients across Saurashtra to travel long distances for specialised radiation treatment. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated the centre virtually, marking a significant upgrade in oncology infrastructure for one of Gujarat's most populous regions.

What the New Facility Offers

The centre, developed entirely with Central government funding, is equipped with a high-energy Linear Accelerator, a wide-bore CT simulator, and a High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy unit. These machines enable a range of precision techniques including Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), Image-Guided Radiotherapy, stereotactic techniques, and brachytherapy.

The technology allows radiation to be delivered with significantly greater accuracy, reducing damage to surrounding healthy tissue — a key advance over conventional radiotherapy setups available at district hospitals in the region.

Who Will Benefit

The facility is expected to serve patients from Rajkot, Saurashtra, and neighbouring districts, with a particular focus on those from rural, semi-urban, and economically weaker backgrounds. Cancers of the head and neck, gynaecological system, and breast are among the conditions that can now be treated locally.

Gujarat Minister of State for Health Praful Pansheriya, who joined the inauguration via video conferencing from Gandhinagar, underscored the relief this would bring. 'Cancer affects not only the patient but the entire family. Travelling long distances for treatment and follow-up increases the financial and emotional burden on patients and their families. The availability of this facility at AIIMS Rajkot will provide major relief, particularly to patients from rural, semi-urban and economically weaker families,' he said.

Ayushman Bharat Coverage and Financial Relief

Pansheriya also highlighted the role of the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in ensuring that eligible patients can access treatment without financial hardship. He stated that the government's priority remains ensuring no family is denied cancer care due to cost constraints — a critical assurance given that radiotherapy courses can run into several lakhs at private centres.

Notably, the availability of such treatment under a government scheme at a public institution significantly reduces out-of-pocket expenditure for patients who would otherwise travel to private oncology centres in Ahmedabad or Mumbai.

Key Officials at the Inauguration

The inauguration was attended by Lok Sabha MP Parshottam Rupala, Rajya Sabha MP Kesaridevsinh Jhala, Union Health Ministry Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, AIIMS Rajkot President Prof Dr J S Titiyal, and Executive Director and CEO Prof Dr L N Doraijaran, along with faculty members, doctors, healthcare workers, and students.

Pansheriya also noted that AIIMS Rajkot's role extends beyond treatment — contributing to medical education, professional training, research, and public health awareness, strengthening the long-term healthcare ecosystem of the region.

Broader Context

This comes amid a concerted Central government push to expand AIIMS infrastructure beyond metro cities. Rajkot's AIIMS, still in its early operational years, is progressively adding tertiary-care capabilities that were previously unavailable in the Saurashtra belt. The addition of a radiation oncology unit is among the most significant upgrades for a region where cancer diagnosis has historically translated to expensive, disruptive outstation treatment journeys. With this facility now operational, the institute is positioned to become a regional referral hub for oncology in western Gujarat.