CHANDRAPUR: RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat said that cancer and other serious illnesses pose immense challenges in life, and everyone wishes to overcome them. This is not a problem limited to one place; similar situations are seen across the world. Education and healthcare are two basic human needs, and they should be available to everyone, everywhere. These services must be affordable and accessible to the common people.
He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Chandrapur Cancer Hospital. Present on the dais were Tata Trust Board of Members Chairman Dr Kailash Sharma, Dr Ajay Chandanwale, Superintendent of Police Sudarshan Mummaka, and District Collector Vinay Gowda.
Dr Bhagwat said that cancer is a disease that not only affects the patient but also devastates the entire family. When one person suffers from cancer, it takes over the whole household. Families become exhausted and disheartened, worrying about treatment expenses, and the mental impact is also very severe. In this regard, the initiative taken by the government and the Tata Cancer Institute to provide treatment is commendable. At least 15 such hospitals have been established nationwide. There is also a large cancer hospital in Nagpur that serves patients from nearby districts.
However, he noted that patients cannot frequently visit hospitals, often cannot afford the costs, and also face accommodation challenges. Because of these difficulties, accessing treatment becomes hard. Keeping these challenges in mind, the decision to establish sub-centres across multiple locations is a welcome step for patients. It is an effective step toward decentralising healthcare and ensuring medical services reach everyone.
He said that while the Pandit Deendayal Chandrapur Cancer Hospital has taken responsibility for treatment, local residents of Chandrapur should also take the initiative to provide emotional support to patients, reassure their families, and support their relatives. This project will promote Chandrapur’s reputation, so citizens must ensure the hospital operates smoothly in all respects.
“God has given us this body, and it should be used in the service of others. It does not require money, only time,” he said, calling for nurturing a spirit of belonging and compassion. By serving patients alongside doctors, families will be relieved of anxiety, patients will recover better, and volunteers will gain the satisfaction of leading a meaningful life.
Calling it a matter of pride that a modern cancer treatment centre has been opened in Chandrapur, Dr Bhagwat said, “I too belong to Chandrapur. Just as doctors from Chandrapur working in villages and cities elsewhere are happy to serve in this hospital, I am also pleased, as a resident of Chandrapur, that this facility has been created.”
