With over 4,000 new patients coming to the PGI’s radiotherapy department every year, the authorities have decided to pay more attention for the upgradation of facilities at the region’s premier medical institute.

While principal Dr K K Talwar has laid special emphasis on the upgradation of the oncology facilities at the institute, plans worth several crores for making it a regional cancer centre have already been undertaken. Funds have been received from the Union Ministry of Health for augmenting all the facilities. The hospital administration is also thinking of pumping in more money for developing better facilities and infrastructure for the patients. The facilities will include more beds in the 14-bed cancer department and more space for outdoor patients undergoing chemotherapy.

“The rush of cancer patients has increased tremendously over the years and the department is examining more than 4,000 new OPD cases every year apart from nearly 1,000 indoor patients annually. The facilities need to be upgraded regularly,” said a senior official.

Even as the region has seen some private cancer hospitals coming up in recent years, PGI remains the key facility for cancer treatment.

While majority of patients come to the hospital from Punjab, those from Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and UP also form a substantial chunk.