Union Agriculture Minister and Vidisha MP Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday, 6 June announced that cancer patients from Vidisha and surrounding districts would no longer need to travel to distant cities like Mumbai for treatment, as Madhya Pradesh moves to strengthen oncology care at the district level. The announcement came at the inauguration of a three-day Cancer Screening and Treatment Camp at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College in Vidisha.

A Cancer Unit Backed by Tata Memorial

Chouhan described the proposed cancer unit at Vidisha Medical College — to be developed in collaboration with Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital — as a landmark step in decentralising specialised healthcare. He said the unit would bring diagnosis, consultation, and treatment closer to patients, sparing them the financial and emotional cost of long-distance travel.

'Timely diagnosis and treatment can save countless lives. The objective is to ensure that patients receive quality cancer care near their homes and are spared the financial and emotional burden of travelling long distances,' Chouhan said.

State-Wide Oncology Upgrade Planned

Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, who heads Public Health and Medical Education in the Madhya Pradesh government, announced at the event that cancer treatment infrastructure across the state would be upgraded with support from the Tata Memorial Trust. He said government medical colleges established before 2003 would be equipped with modern cancer diagnosis and treatment facilities, with advanced oncology services planned for Vidisha and Sagar medical colleges in the next phase.

'Cancer can be treated more effectively when detected in its initial stages. Awareness and regular screening are essential to reducing mortality and improving outcomes,' Shukla said.

Cervical Cancer Vaccination and Prevention Drive

Shukla also disclosed that the state government is implementing a cervical cancer vaccination programme targeting girls aged 13–14 years, alongside awareness campaigns focused on cancer prevention and early diagnosis. Chouhan, meanwhile, urged citizens to avoid tobacco, gutka, cigarettes, and other intoxicants — which he identified as leading causes of cancer — and advocated for natural and organic farming practices to reduce chemical exposure.

Camp Draws Large Turnout

A large number of patients attended the three-day camp, where specialist consultations, screening, and treatment-related services were made available under one roof. Chouhan interacted with patients directly and assured them of full support in accessing treatment and diagnostic facilities. This comes amid a broader national push to improve cancer care access in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, where specialist infrastructure has historically been scarce.

With Tata Memorial's institutional backing now formally extended to Madhya Pradesh's district medical colleges, the state's oncology roadmap is set to move from intent to infrastructure in the months ahead.