By TC News Desk
Agartala, 2nd February 2025: In a major breakthrough for cancer treatment in Tripura, specialist doctors at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Regional Cancer Center have successfully installed a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) line for the first time.
Officials said that this significant medical advancement will enable cancer patients to receive chemotherapy in a more effective and less painful manner.
Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy often suffer from vein damage due to repeated administration of drugs through the same veins. The introduction of the PICC line will now allow for the safe and gradual infusion of chemotherapy without causing severe damage to the veins. This medical milestone was achieved on January 27, when the first PICC line was installed for a patient at the center.
Previously, cancer patients from the state had to travel to private hospitals outside Tripura for this procedure, incurring expenses between one to one and a half lakh rupees. With the successful installation of the PICC line at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Regional Cancer Center, patients will now be able to avail themselves of this facility locally at a significantly reduced cost of approximately Rs 16,000. Efforts are also being made to further lower the cost to make it more affordable for patients.
The procedure was conducted by expert onco-anesthesia specialist Dr. Mrinal Debbarma and anesthesiologist Dr. Debashis Deb Roy, with the assistance of OT technicians Pranchal Acharya and Amlan Dasgupta. This marks a crucial step towards enhancing cancer treatment facilities within the state.
The acting Director of Health, in a press release, confirmed this development and emphasized its importance in improving the quality of healthcare for cancer patients in Tripura. With this new facility, many cancer patients in the state will benefit from advanced and cost-effective treatment without the need to travel long distances.
