Dr. Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), a cardinal medical establishment for patients battling with cancer in Guwahati has been standing tall in providing assistance and care for patients across Assam and the Northeast.
Lately, the condition of the infrastructure has raised a few eyebrows as it predates modern architectural advances.
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In particular, the substandard state of the toilets/washrooms in the building has been a major concern for the patients and the attendants. Another highlighted issue has been the doctor-patient ratio which is alarmingly disproportionate.
The ‘Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Society Trust’, a volunteer group founded BBCI in honor of Dr. Bhubaneswar Borooah- Assamese physician, freedom warrior, and philanthropist. A decision was made in 1958 during a public assembly in Guwahati to establish a cancer hospital in the city. The founding president was the late Debendra Nath Sarma, while the founding secretary was the late Dr. Kanak Chandra Borooah, the famous brother of Dr. Bhubaneswar Borooah. From the Institute’s founding, numerous individuals, including the late Bimala Prasad Chaliha, Dr. Ghanashyam Das, Bishnuram Medhi, Dr. Birendra Nath Choudhury, and Mahendra Mohan Choudhury, have dedicated their lives to its advancement.
The Institute began operations in 1974 after being formally inaugurated on November 18, 1973. In 1980, the Indian government’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare designated the Institute as a Regional Cancer Center. The B Borooah Cancer Society Trust transferred ownership of the Institute to the Government of Assam on August 6, 1986, while it maintained its autonomy.
Beginning in November 1989, the North Eastern Council, the Government of Assam, and the Department of Atomic Energy, the Government of India, participated in the First Tripartite Agreement for the revival of the Institute. This tripartite agreement for the Institute’s management and funding persisted until 2017. On November 27, 2017, the Institute was formally taken over as a division of Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.
At present, there are 12 departments in BBCI dedicatedly working towards the betterment of patients and understanding the intricacies of terminal illness. The array of departments includes- surgical oncology, medical oncology, head and neck surgery, radiation oncology, gynaecologic oncology, oncopathology, radio diagnosis and imaging, preventive oncology, palliative medicine, nuclear medicine, cancer epidemiology biostatistics and CR and anaesthesiology. In addition to that there are allied departments which collectively play an important role towards the entirety of BBCI.
Located at Gopinath Nagar, Guwahati, in a plot of land covering an area of 14.2 acres (43 bighas), BBCI was initially a 230-bedded establishment. There were 100 bedded (general) and one 27 bedded executive guest houses for patients & relatives inside the hospital premises. However, over time the numbers have altered to some extent. The Institute also has a residential campus for the employees.
Private OPD was launched by the Institute on January 1, 2017. In February 2010, a DBT Center for Molecular Biology and Cancer Research was established. Under the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Cancer Registry Programme, the Institute maintains a Population and Hospital Based Cancer Registry. It is currently engaged in numerous scientific initiatives.
Despite such provisions and medical facilities, a few patients and relatives raised the issue of unsanitary toilets and washrooms.
While speaking to GPlus a patient shared, “The general cabins out here do not have attached washrooms. This poses a challenge for patients as the common washrooms are in a pathetic state. The condition at times is such that you rather feel obnoxious. Moreover, it is tiresome for us to walk up till there with saline solution inserted in our hands. At least the common washrooms for patients should be separated from others and hygiene should be maintained.”
Another attendant expressed, “There are patients here from across Assam. Often, more than two-three relatives accompany those patients who are not residents of Guwahati. This further turns out to be a menace at times as attendants are noticed scattered everywhere leaving no room for comfort. This is another factor for the poor conditions of the toilets as frequent use and irresponsible cleaning habits shape such unsanitary conditions.”
There are around 148 sanitary workers in BBCI who are continuously associated with the cleanliness of the infrastructure.
He further mentioned that during night hours apart from one attendant near the patient, the rest end up using each and every open space to set up their makeshift beds with mosquito nets. Besides hallways, no space can be seen available.
A family member, collecting reports from the concerned doctor shared with GPlus saying, “At times the crowd increases suddenly. It gets all cluttered and with the present weather conditions it becomes claustrophobic. Upon asking about the state the person at the desk outside said that only one doctor was present at the shift and there were more than 150 files of patients. I somehow managed to digest that sort of information but being a crucial establishment towards treating cancer, the issue is frightening. However, that is how it has been going along and we can’t complain as far as my patient is being treated.”
Regarding the management of the crowd and the safety within the premises, there are 64 security personnels who are retired servicemen. The work is divided according to shifts.
One security official shared, “We are aware of the condition at night. But, we just cannot prevent them from letting them sleep as it is against a basic conscience. They have members of their family suffering from such a disease and we just can’t impose strict rules. There has to be a little sense of humanity.”
When GPlus discussed the issues put forward by the patients and relatives, Bihuti Bhusan Borthakur, Director said, “The doctor-patient ratio will never be fulfilled across India. We have vacant posts in BBCI, but there are no qualified doctors to fill in those.”
“There are buildings out here which are around 70 years old, the infrastructure planned earlier was not based on the amount of patients that visit at present. Thus, there might be few shortcomings. Moreover, we are planning to renovate and build new infrastructure. Initially we are aiming to complete it by 2027. Hope we fulfill the target by then,” the director further added.
BBCI accounts for an approximate number of 1 lakh patients every year. This tally includes both new and old patients. With an increase in the number of patients gradually, BBCI is in dire need of upgradation– infrastructure and manpower. Only time will reveal whether it emerges as an improved life saving center.
