Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched South Asia's biggest cancer care network by inaugurating seven medical hospitals and establishing groundworks of many more for cancer treatment in Assam.

He initiated one hospital in Dibrugarh and virtually launched six cancer hospitals in Barpeta, Tezpur, Jorhat, Darrang, Kokrajhar, and Lakhimpur. He established the groundwork for seven new clinics to be set up at Goalpara, Sivasagar, Dhubri, Nagaon, Golaghat, Tinsukia, and Nalbari.

“There was a time when setting up of one hospital in seven years was considered a big achievement. But today in Assam, seven new hospitals were inaugurated in a day. Three other cancer hospitals are under construction and the foundation stone of seven more have been laid,” Modi said at a public meeting in Dibrugarh.

“Such widespread and specialised cancer care network in Assam is needed as the state and rest of northeast has been witnessing a large number of cancer cases. Earlier patients from poor and middle-class families had to go outside the state for treatment.” PM Modi.

The 17 hospitals are a drive of the Assam government and Tata Trusts working closely together. They will be built at an expense of around ₹4,000 crores. It will be South Asia's single biggest affordable cancer care network.

Ratan Tata said, "I dedicate my last years to help make Assam a state that recognises and is recognised by all."

"Today is an important day in the history of Assam. Higher level healthcare facility for cancer treatment which was earlier not available in the state is being brought here. Cancer is not a rich man's disease," he said.

"Assam can now say that even a small state of India has been equipped with world-class cancer treatment facilities," Mr Tata added.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his gratitude to Ratan Tata and the Government of India for their commitment, saying that the largest cancer care treatment network will help Assam as well as South East Asia.

“Earlier cancer patients from Assam had to go to Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai for treatment. From now that would not be needed. These hospitals will benefit not only Assam, but they will be the premier cancer care centres in entire South East Asia,” Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The new hospitals will be equipped for chemotherapy, robotic surgery, bone marrow transplant, diagnostic and advanced imaging, nuclear medicine, and stem-cell research.