Overcrowding Forces Patients into Long Waiting Periods
The State Cancer Institute (SCI) in Jaipur is grappling with an acute shortage of hospital beds, leaving numerous cancer patients in urgent need of care waiting indefinitely. The ongoing crisis has compelled SCI to request Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) Hospital to temporarily accommodate and treat cancer patients at its facility.
170-Bed Facility Struggles Amid Rising Patient Influx
Currently operating with just 170 beds, SCI is struggling to meet the overwhelming demand for cancer treatment. Plans are underway to expand capacity to 500 beds; however, until construction is completed, the space crunch continues to severely limit patient intake. SCI is one of three regional cancer centres in Rajasthan, with the others located in Jhalawar and Bikaner.
SCI Appeals to RUHS for Interim Relief
Dr. Sandeep Jasuja, Superintendent of SCI, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “We have no beds available to accommodate more patients. Since the RUHS building is right next to ours and is not operating at full capacity, we’ve requested the government to provide temporary bed space there for our cancer patients,” he told TOI.
New Hospital, Expanding Services
Commissioned in February 2020, SCI was established as a tertiary care hospital offering comprehensive cancer treatment under one roof. Initially launched with medical oncology services, the institute has since expanded to treat all types of cancers, positioning itself as a one-stop destination for cancer care in the region.
Free Cancer Medicines Attract Patients Nationwide
SCI offers cancer medicines free of cost to eligible patients — a key factor behind the influx of patients from not just Rajasthan, but across the country. “We’ve recently added several new medications to our free treatment list,” Dr. Jasuja noted, highlighting the institute’s growing reach and impact.
SMS Medical College Vows Continued Support
As reported by TOI, Dr. Deepak Maheshwari, Principal and Controller of SMS Medical College — to which SCI is affiliated — assured that support for SCI will continue to grow. “Once construction is complete, more space will become available. We are also equipping SCI with the latest technology, including MRI machines, which are currently unavailable,” he said.
Looking Ahead
Until the infrastructure expansion is completed, SCI remains heavily reliant on support from nearby medical institutions. The collaboration with RUHS Hospital may offer some relief, but the pressing need for increased capacity and advanced diagnostic services remains a top priority.