The Karnataka government has unveiled plans to establish the country’s first proton beam therapy centre under the public sector at the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (KMIO) in Bengaluru.
Karnataka’s Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development, Sharan Prakash Patil, recently met Union Health Minister JP Nadda in Bengaluru to formally submit a proposal requesting ₹500 crore in central funding for the advanced cancer treatment centre.
KMIO, one of India’s leading cancer treatment institutions, handles more than 21,000 new cancer cases each year. The proposed facility will introduce proton therapy a cutting-edge form of radiation treatment that delivers highly precise doses of radiation, minimizing damage to nearby healthy tissues. This makes it particularly beneficial for treating tumours in sensitive or hard-to-reach areas.
In his proposal, Patil explained that unlike conventional radiotherapy which uses x-rays or gamma rays that can harm surrounding healthy tissues, proton therapy offers pinpoint accuracy, resulting in fewer side effects.
The statement from Patil’s office emphasized the potential of proton therapy in treating childhood cancers especially genetic types like neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) and retinoblastoma as well as cancers of the brain, spine, eye, liver, breast, prostate, head and neck, paranasal sinuses, and even cases that require re-irradiation or involve inoperable tumours.
The minister noted that by 2025, over 1.2 lakh patients in India could benefit from this form of therapy. The proposed centre at KMIO is expected to offer advanced cancer care with reduced toxicity levels and also handle complex referrals from institutions like NIMHANS and the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health.
