Bhubaneswar: The State Government has decided to set up Odisha Cancer Care Foundation for better treatment of cancer patients. A decision in this regard was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary A.P. Padhi.

Under this project, some district headquarters hospitals (DHHs) and State Government-run Medical College and Hospitals (MCHs) will be upgraded with better facilities for cancer treatment.

Around Rs 1000 crore will be spent in this regard, 50 per cent of which will be borne by Tata Trust and the other half by the State Government.

"The Acharya Harihar Cancer Research Centre will be upgraded. Besides, a Tata Memorial Hospital will be set up in Bhubaneswar. Some district headquarters hospitals (DHHs) and State Government-run Medical College and Hospitals (MCHs) will be upgraded for better cancer treatment," the Chief Secretary said speaking to reporters after the meeting.

"The project will be carried out in 3 phases costing about Rs 1000 crore. In the first year, we will spend 250-300 crore and set up smaller cancer facilities closer to people's homes," an official of the Tata Trust said.