Nagpur is rapidly emerging as a key centre for healthcare innovation in India, as Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for ‘Swasti Niwas’—a dedicated residential complex for cancer patients and their caregivers—within the premises of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) on Monday.
This development signals a major step forward in the city’s aspiration to become a national hub for equitable and affordable cancer care.Addressing a gathering at the event, Shah underscored the transformative progress India’s healthcare infrastructure has seen under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. With government expenditure on health climbing from ₹37,000 crore during the UPA regime to ₹1.35 lakh crore under the current government, the sector has experienced a renewed focus on expansion, inclusion and innovation.
Swasti Niwas, envisioned as a support facility for long-term cancer patients and their families, aims to ease the physical and emotional toll that often accompanies prolonged medical treatment. “Cancer care is not just a medical challenge; it’s a human one. Facilities like these reflect the government’s commitment to healing beyond hospital walls,” Shah said.He also drew attention to the fact that over 60 crore people from economically weaker backgrounds are now entitled to receive up to ₹5 lakh worth of free medical treatment annually through the Ayushman Bharat scheme. In addition, India has scaled up its apex medical education network by expanding the number of AIIMS institutes from seven to 23 in the last decade.
The National Cancer Institute, where the new Swasti Niwas complex is coming up, is set to become a flagship centre for cancer research and treatment in central India. Amit Shah affirmed that the Centre would fully support Maharashtra’s efforts to establish an advanced oncology research facility within the NCI campus.Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was credited for first conceptualising the NCI in 2012 during his earlier tenure as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister. Shah acknowledged his long-term vision, saying, “Good intentions backed by sustained effort always deliver societal benefit. What we are witnessing in Nagpur is a testament to that belief.”
Cancer remains one of India’s leading causes of mortality, and access to affordable, quality care is a growing concern—especially in non-metro regions. Swasti Niwas addresses a critical need by providing a dignified living space for patients and families who often travel from rural and semi-urban areas for treatment.More broadly, the healthcare infrastructure in Maharashtra—and Nagpur in particular—has received a considerable uplift in recent years through integrated public-private efforts. As the state balances high-end medical research with patient-centric facilities, the latest developments signal a more inclusive and human-centric model of healthcare delivery.
With sustainability, accessibility, and empathy at the core of this initiative, Nagpur is now positioning itself not just as a treatment centre, but as a sanctuary for healing and hope.
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