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They do care

  • 14/06/2005

Acharya Tulsi Regional Cancer Treatment and Research Centre (RCC), Bikaner caters to patients mainly from Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and even Uttar Pradesh. The hospital was founded in the 1940s; then, it was the only centre in north-west India providing radiation therapy. In 1999, it was recognised as a regional cancer centre (19 such exist in India today).

Treatment costs here are low. But people come here more because there are others in their village who have been to RCC and survived. Treatment commences immediately, reducing the chances of the disease exacerbating to an incurable stage. Cheap resthouses and heavily subsidised food also make things easy for the patients and their kin.

The hospital has a huge database of patients. This includes information on where they come from. In 2003, 1,937 patients (out of a total 4,607) came from Punjab. Some Bhatinda villages mentioned are: Rarya, Chak Fatech Singh Wala, Sooch, Kili Nihal Singh Wala, Singho, Lelewala, Mod Charat Singh Wala and Maun Mandi. Analysis of the raw data the hospital provided shows 304 cases from Bhatinda district

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