Cancer OPD Launches at Padmapur Hospital as Bargarh Cancer Care Debate Intensifies

Bargarh: In a significant health initiative for the region, a new Cancer Outpatient Department (OPD) will open every Tuesday at Padmapur Subdivisional Hospital. Previously underserved, the local community will now have increased access to cancer screening and early detection services. Fighters Group, a local advocacy organization, is urging residents to make use of this new facility, which aims to reduce treatment delays for cancer patients who previously had to travel to far-off locations.

The new OPD comes amid growing controversy surrounding the Bargarh Cancer Hospital, a project that has seen increasing public frustration and political friction. The 100-bed cancer hospital, built with an investment of Rs 106 crore and completed in February 2024, has been a focal point of community discontent. Although officially inaugurated, the hospital has not yet delivered on the full suite of promised diagnostic and treatment services, which has led some to question the government’s commitment to the project.

Local patients who were hopeful for comprehensive cancer care in the region now express disappointment, as basic diagnostic facilities remain unavailable. This situation has affected the trust of many, and attendance has reportedly declined as residents lose confidence in the hospital’s capacity to deliver adequate treatment. Allegations have emerged suggesting that this lack of resources may be a strategy to justify closing the facility, though there has been no official confirmation of such plans.

While Bargarh Cancer Hospital has completed some successful procedures, including a recent intricate surgery for carcinoma of the penis, essential treatment options like radiation therapy remain scarce.

Reports indicate that nearly 120 patients visit the Bargarh Cancer Hospital each month, yet many leave without receiving the necessary care. Only those requiring chemotherapy, primarily low-income patients from nearby areas like Chhattisgarh, are currently served. Despite these limitations, Bargarh Cancer Hospital has managed some complex surgeries, like the aforementioned carcinoma case. This successful operation, which involved complete penile removal, urinary diversion, and lymph node dissection, underscores the hospital’s potential.

Ashwini Kumar Darji, chairman of Fighters Group, has called on the government to elevate Bargarh Cancer Hospital’s status to a fully-equipped cancer hospital, a move that would meet a longstanding regional demand and bring comprehensive cancer care closer to home for residents of Bargarh and surrounding areas.