Distributed Model of Cancer Care
- Distributed Model of Cancer Care
What is the model
A distributed model of cancer care has been developed to ensure enhanced access, reduced travel and lesser out-of-pocket expenses for cancer patients in Assam and nearby states. As a phase-I a network of 10 hospitals is being developed, wherein; State Cancer Institute, Guwahati, will be the apex institute; Dibrugarh, Barpeta, Diphu and Silchar will be level two hospitals annexed to Government Medical Colleges; Tezpur, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Darrang, Dhurbi are being developed as level 3 hospitals providing diagnostics and cancer day care services, annexed to District Hospitals.
The model will be supplemented by awareness, screening and palliative care across levels.
Framework of the model
The objective of Assam Cancer Care Foundation is to develop patient centric cancer institutions to deliver standardized and affordable care closer to the patients’ homes.
In contrast to the current situation where one apex hospital handles a cancer patient’s journey end-to-end, under ‘Distributed Cancer Care Model’ different levels centres closer to the patients’ homes and interlinked with the apex centres, will handle diagnosis and care delivery, thereby shifting the load away from apex hospitals and providing high quality cancer care closer to home and reducing out of pocket expenses.
Public system strengthening is one of the key features of the model. The new cancer care facilities will share common resources with existing Government Medical Colleges and District Hospitals, patients being the core of planning operations.
Key features
- 1 Apex Centre
- 4 Level 2 Centres
- 5 Level 3 Centres
- Surgical Oncology Services
- Nuclear Medicine Facility
- Research facility
- Comprehensive Diagnostic Labs
- Subsidized accommodation for cancer patients and care takers
- Radiation Oncology Services
- Medical Oncology Services
- Academic facility