City gets advanced cancer treatment centre

Rajkot: In a major advancement for cancer care in Gujarat, the Shree Nathalal Parekh Cancer Institute, which is associated with Rajkot Cancer Society, officially launched Project Raktjyoti, establishing the first dedicated bone marrow transplant (BMT), cellular therapy (CAR-T) and comprehensive haematology unit in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions. This charitable trust hospital provides affordable and subsidized treatment to those in need.

The state-of-the-art facility is designed to bridge a critical healthcare gap by bringing advanced haematological treatments closer to home. Previously, patients in the region requiring intensive chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants or cellular therapies were forced to travel to metropolitan cities like Mumbai and Ahmedabad, often facing substantial financial, emotional and logistical challenges.

“The new unit will offer diagnosis and treatment for a comprehensive list of blood cancers and haematological disorders, including acute and chronic leukemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, thalassemia, haemophilia and sickle cell disease. Advanced treatment modalities available under Project Raktjyoti include both autologous and allogenic bone marrow transplantation, CAR-T cell therapy, immunotherapy and targeted precision oncology.” the hospital said in a statement.

Demonstrating the immediate impact and clinical readiness of the programme, the hospital has already achieved a major milestone: the successful completion of its first autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The procedure was performed on an elderly female patient suffering from multiple myeloma, who has recovered successfully and was recently discharged.

Project Raktjyoti materialized through the vision of the hospital’s medical director and head and neck oncosurgeon, Dr Khyati Vasavda, under the guidance of the governing council led by chairman Gaurang Sanghvi and trustee Dr J J Kalaria. “The challenge was that we had no trained staff, no guidelines for equipment set up. We sent our medical officers and nursing staff to get at specialized hospitals in Mumbai and Pune before starting this unit.” said Dr Vasavda.

Representatives of the cancer Institute said that the comprehensive oncology centre remains committed to patient-centred care and state-of-the-art technology. Calling the launch a transformative journey, the institute noted, “Project Raktjyoti is more than a healthcare initiative — it is a beacon of hope for patients and families across Saurashtra and Kutch, ensuring access to advanced blood disorder and blood cancer treatments closer to home.”