Private operator to be finalised; proposal heads to standing committee next week
Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is finally moving forward with its long-pending plan to establish a dedicated cancer treatment facility, with a private partner likely to be finalised soon, a senior civic official confirmed.
Tender Process Faced Multiple Hurdles
Despite announcing the project two years ago, PCMC saw repeated delays due to poor participation from private operators. “We had to extend the tender deadline at least three times in the past year,” the official said, citing limited interest from bidders.
The proposal to appoint a private operator will be presented before the standing committee next week for approval.
Hospital to be Built Under PPP Model
The facility will be developed under the Design-Build-Operate-Transfer (DBOT) model through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The selected private entity will construct, run and manage the hospital for 30 years, after which it will be handed over to PCMC.
The hospital is planned on a 34,868 sqft plot near Thergaon Civic Hospital. It will start with 60 beds and is expected to expand to a 100-bed facility in the future. Once construction begins, the hospital is expected to be ready in two years.
City Lacks Existing Civic Cancer Facilities
Currently, no PCMC-run hospital offers dedicated cancer treatment. A short-lived chemotherapy service was previously introduced at Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital, but was later discontinued due to resource constraints. This has forced many patients to seek costly treatment at private institutions.
Affordable Cancer Care Under Government Health Schemes
According to Dr Laxman Gophane, medical officer at PCMC’s health department, the private operator will also be responsible for installing medical infrastructure, with the project estimated to cost around ₹200 crore.
Treatment charges will be regulated under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MPJAY) and the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) to ensure affordability.
Facility to Offer Advanced, Comprehensive Care
The upcoming hospital will provide comprehensive cancer services, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgeries and counselling. It will treat various cancers such as breast, lung, cervical, and prostate.
The facility will be equipped with state-of-the-art machines such as linear accelerators, brachytherapy units, and PET-CT scanners, offering modern cancer care under one roof.