Union Health Minister Shri J.P. Nadda inaugurated the Advanced Radiotherapy Facility at AIIMS Rajkot on November 2, 2026, representing a significant investment of approximately ₹39 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The facility is equipped with advanced radiation therapy technologies including a High Energy Linear Accelerator (LINAC), Wide Bore CT Simulator, and High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy Unit, enabling advanced techniques such as Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy, Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy, and Stereotactic Radiosurgery with millimeter-level accuracy.
The facility serves a catchment population of approximately 1.54 crore people across Saurashtra region, including Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Morbi, Surendranagar, Gir Somnath, Devbhumi Dwarka and Botad, with an anticipated annual patient load of 500–700 cases focusing on head and neck, gynaecological, breast, bone and soft tissue malignancies. The department has been operational since May 29, 2026, providing both radiotherapy and chemotherapy services within an integrated cancer care framework supported by surgical services.
Shri Nadda highlighted the expansion of AIIMS from one institution to 18 operational out of 22, significantly strengthening tertiary healthcare access. The government's cancer screening initiatives through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have achieved substantial coverage: approximately 37.7 crore oral cancer screenings detecting around 2.5 lakh cases, 17.7 crore breast cancer screenings identifying approximately 95,000 cases, and 9.8 crore cervical cancer screenings detecting around one lakh cases. Additionally, 44 crore screenings each have been conducted for hypertension and diabetes since 2018.
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) provides financial protection, with eligible beneficiaries receiving cancer treatment at no cost at AIIMS Rajkot, while other patients receive subsidized rates. Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted the National Health Policy 2017's comprehensive healthcare vision, strengthened infrastructure through more than 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, and measures to make cancer medicines affordable including trade margin rationalization, AMRIT pharmacies, Jan Aushadhi Kendras, and basic customs duty exemptions.