Construction of Tata's 100-bed Ayurvedic cancer hospital in Raigad exempted from stamp duty by the Maharashtra government.
Maharashtra Takes a Leap in Integrating Ayurveda with Advanced Cancer Treatment
In a significant step towards blending traditional Ayurvedic practices with modern oncology, the Maharashtra government has approved a stamp duty waiver for the Tata Memorial Centre's upcoming Integrated Ayurvedic Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Khopoli, Raigad.
The 100-bed facility, located just 40 minutes from the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), is set to be a model for integrative healthcare and research. It aims to improve cancer treatment outcomes through the combined power of evidence-based oncology and Ayurvedic therapies, including yoga.
The state government has shown its commitment to this project by allotting 10 hectares of land in Tambati, Khalapur taluka, for the hospital's construction at a nominal lease of ₹1 per year. The Revenue Department, too, has expressed its support for projects that directly benefit citizens.
The Tata Memorial Centre's hospital in Khopoli will allocate 12% of its beds for underprivileged families, government employees, and the general public at subsidised rates. It will also cultivate its own medicinal plants for Ayurvedic treatments, relying on homegrown resources to provide evidence for the effectiveness of these practices.
The proposed Khopoli facility is not the first initiative of its kind in India. The All India Institute of Ayurveda's Centre for Integrative Oncology, for instance, combines modern medicine with AYUSH modalities to enhance cancer management. This move by the Tata Memorial Centre aligns with India's growing emphasis on integrating AYUSH practices with evidence-based oncology.
Doctors involved in the project stress the need for rigorous scientific studies to establish how and where Ayurveda can be most effective in cancer care. The centre's focus on evidence-based research sets it apart as a landmark effort in Maharashtra to blend Ayurveda with advanced cancer treatment, aiming to offer holistic and accessible cancer care to diverse populations, including economically weaker sections.
The decision to waive stamp duty for the Tata Memorial Centre's cancer hospital was approved at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The proposal for the waiver was made by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who emphasized that the move strengthens Tata Memorial Centre's efforts to deliver quality cancer care. The waiver for the Tata Memorial Centre's cancer hospital will be formalised in the state Gazette after clearance from the Law and Judiciary Department.
This initiative is a testament to the Maharashtra government's commitment to tackling Maharashtra's rising cancer burden while expanding access to affordable treatment in both rural and urban areas. The Tata Memorial Centre's upcoming cancer hospital in Khopoli is expected to function as an integrated cancer care centre, providing affordable accommodation for one attendant per patient and striving to be a model for integrative healthcare and research.
[1] The Hindu: Tata Memorial Centre's cancer hospital in Khopoli to be 100-bed integrated Ayurvedic facility
[2] The Times of India: Tata Memorial Centre's cancer hospital in Raigad district to have 100 beds, 12% reserved for underprivileged
[3] The Indian Express: Tata Memorial Centre's cancer hospital in Raigad district gets stamp duty waiver of Rs 38.99 lakh
[4] Business Standard: Tata Memorial Centre's cancer hospital in Raigad district gets stamp duty waiver of Rs 38.99 lakh
[5] The Indian Express: All India Institute of Ayurveda's Centre for Integrative Oncology
