The setting up of the Samprada Singh Memorial Radiotherapy Centre in Muzaffarpur is set to provide a significant boost to cancer care in Northern Bihar. The facility, which is part of the newly opened Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, is one of the most advanced oncology treatment centres in eastern India.

The radiotherapy centre was built with the help of the Alkem Foundation, the CSR arm of Alkem Laboratories Ltd., in conjunction with the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) in Mumbai. Built with an INR 100 crore investment, it is presently North Bihar's largest radiation unit and the state's second-largest. Officials say it has the capacity to treat around 3,500 to 4,000 cancer patients each year, potentially decreasing the need for patients to travel considerable distances for sophisticated care.

Cancer remains a significant health issue in India, and Bihar has long had deficiencies in oncology infrastructure. Patients from Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, and surrounding areas frequently had to seek treatment in major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, or Kolkata, resulting in financial burden and medical delays.

Experts feel that the new centre might greatly alleviate this burden. Decentralising advanced oncology services is intended to increase early access to radiotherapy and bring care closer to patients' homes.

The centre is outfitted with some of the most advanced radiotherapy technologies available in India. The facilities include linear accelerators (LINAC), stereotaxy systems, organ motion management systems, a CT simulator, and in-house brachytherapy with dedicated applicators. Such technologies enable accurate tumour targeting while minimising damage to healthy tissues, which is an important feature of current cancer treatment.

Madhurima Singh, Executive Director and Chairperson of Alkem's Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Committee, emphasised the initiative's local significance: "With cancer cases rising each year, the demand for world-class facilities closer to home has never been stronger. This centre will not only provide access to modern therapy but will also provide families with a holistic approach to care."

Dr Kumar Prabhash, Director of the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, stated that the collaboration builds on a long-standing partnership with the Alkem Foundation: "With this centre, we are able to provide complete and compassionate cancer care to patients in Bihar and neighbouring states, bridging a long-standing gap in oncology treatment." Our goal is to provide ethical and cost-effective evidence-based therapy while also furthering education and research."

The centre also draws on existing community-level programmes in Bihar, such as screening and awareness campaigns and home-based palliative care. These services, provided by the Alkem Foundation in collaboration with TMC, are intended to supplement hospital-based treatment and provide continuity of care.

With around 7,500 new cancer cases identified each year in Bihar, the demand for dependable oncology care continues to rise. The Samprada Singh Memorial Radiotherapy Centre is projected to play an important role in closing the region's treatment gap, as well as contributing to cancer education and research.

For patients and families in Bihar and eastern India, the establishment of this clinic is a step towards more accessible and technologically advanced cancer care.