September 12, 2024
The central government has granted in-principle approval for the expansion of Swami Ram Cancer Hospital in Haldwani. The Ministry of Forests and Environment has allowed the removal of 44 trees, paving the way for the hospital’s expansion. The new facility will be developed on 1.75 hectares of forest land and will include a 196-bed hospital.
As part of the project, 250 positions will be created, and a 141-bed hostel for patients and their families will be built. The state’s Health Secretary, Dr. A.R. Rajesh Kumar, emphasized that the expanded hospital will provide comprehensive cancer diagnosis and treatment, reducing the need for patients to travel to other cities.
The project has been approved with a budget of ₹103.6565 crore. Out of this, ₹69 crore was released to the state government in 2021. The state government has already approved 152 positions and is awaiting approval for an additional 255 critical positions.
The expansion will occur in two phases. The first phase will involve the construction of ward and service blocks, and the procurement of advanced medical equipment is underway. The second phase will include the establishment of diagnostic, nuclear medicine, preventive oncology, and other specialty departments. The hospital will feature 31 departments, including a radiology unit with CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds, as well as a diagnostic block with a blood bank, pathology lab, microbiology, and biochemistry labs.
In addition to the hospital, a 141-bed accommodation facility will be constructed for long-term patient stays. The central government had approved the regularization of the 1.75-hectare forest land for this project on September 22, 2022, after granting permission for the removal of 44 trees.
Health Secretary Dr. Kumar highlighted the tireless efforts of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat in advancing this project.