Dedicated Survivorship Facility to Support Long-Term Cancer Care in Goa
In a major step towards strengthening post-treatment cancer care, Goa Medical College (GMC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Cancer Society to enhance cancer survivorship services across the state.
As part of the initiative, a dedicated survivorship facility named the “After Completion of Treatment (ACT) Clinic” has been launched at GMC, Bambolin. The clinic aims to provide long-term support and monitoring for cancer survivors, especially children and young adults who have completed their treatment.
ACT Clinic to Offer Holistic Support for Cancer Survivors
Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane inaugurated the ACT Clinic and highlighted the importance of extending healthcare beyond treatment.
According to the minister, the clinic will provide structured survivorship care plans, regular follow-up monitoring, psychological support, nutrition guidance, and lifestyle counselling to help patients transition back to normal life after cancer treatment.
He stated that the initiative is designed not only to improve survival rates but also to ensure a better quality of life for survivors.
Focus on Young Cancer Survivors
The Health Minister noted that more than 9,000 patients are currently registered at GMC, with nearly 7–8 per cent being young individuals who have a high probability of cure.
He emphasized that the initiative is aimed at safeguarding the future of these patients by ensuring comprehensive long-term care and support after treatment completion.
“Healthcare is not only about curing illness, but also about helping people reclaim their lives with dignity, confidence, and hope,” Rane said.
GMC Expanding Digital Healthcare Services
The launch of the ACT Clinic comes shortly after GMC introduced online outpatient department (OPD) appointments for selected departments to reduce patient waiting time and overcrowding.
The e-OPD service currently covers orthopaedics, general surgery, ENT, medicine, and dermatology departments, with 100 appointment slots available daily in each department. Officials said the service will gradually be extended to additional departments in the future.
The move is expected to streamline patient flow and improve accessibility to healthcare services at the state-run medical institution.
