To address the needs of the increasing number of cancer patients from across the region and provide better facilities and reduce the waiting time of patients, the Radiation Oncology OPD of GMCH-32 has been shifted to the South Campus Hospital in Sector 48.
“All day care services, as well as wards, have been shifted here, with facilities for registration, sample collection, tests, all available to patients here, including the latest machines. We are already running a general and geriatric OPD here, with a schedule of specialists from various departments in place. We want more patients from nearby areas to benefit from the services here. This will save their time, and in case of specific tests, they are referred to GMCH-32. At present, we have an ECG and portable X-Ray machine here. Purchase of an X-Ray machine and more equipment is on the cards. This shift strives to improve healthcare services and better treatment facilities for cancer patients. Right now, we have around 40 to 50 oncology patients here in the 48 hospital,” said Dr G P Thami, director-principal of GMCH-32.
A free ambulance service is available for patients between GMCH-32 and the Sector 48 hospital.
A prospective study conducted among registered cancer patients of Radiation Oncology and other departments in GMCH and PGIMER, Chandigarh, emphasised the increasing cancer burden in tertiary care health centres of Chandigarh.
Entitled ‘An increasing cancer burden in tertiary care health centres of Chandigarh’, the hospital-based study by various experts from the Department of Radiation Oncology, GMCH-32 and published in 2021 in the International Journal of Medical Research and Health Sciences highlighted the increase in patients from neighbouring states coming to Chandigarh for cancer-related treatment due to the unavailability of tertiary healthcare facilities. The study observed that most of the patients were coming to Chandigarh in the advanced stage of cancer, that is, more than 57.4%, and various factors were influencing the increase in the burden of cancer in the UT.
The study was conducted on cancer patients coming to GMCH-32 and PGIMER, Chandigarh, because there was a lack of cancer-related treatment in their states, with both OPD and IPD patients included in the study, and the maximum number of patients were between the age groups of 22 years and 80 years.
Dr Dimri K Suraj, a corresponding author of the study, noted that the unavailability of an appropriate number of tertiary care centres, lack of guidance and late referrals to advanced care centres played a significant role in increasing the burden of cancer in Chandigarh, with the maximum number of patients from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh.
Story continues below this ad
The study concluded that the incidence of cancer patients is increasing every year at both hospitals. In 2015, there were 1,750 new cancer patients registered; in the year 2016, there were 1,800 patients; in 2017, there were 1,959 patients; in the year 2018, there were 1,969 patients; and in the year 2019, there were 2,222 patients registered, with the increasing growth rate of burden approximately 78.75% in five years only. For the study, more than 3,000 patients diagnosed with cancer were interviewed, and in women, breast cancer was the highest, and in males, the highest was lip and oral cavity cancer. The study found that a history of smoking was present in 25.60% of patients, tobacco chewing (6.1%), and alcohol intake were present in 21.3% respectively. Around 41.5% of patients were non-vegetarian, and the use of green vegetables was also very low. The use of junk food was very high (78.7%), and only 0.2% out of 30.7% of patients who were exercising were doing it for an adequate time.
Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India.
Professional Profile
Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh.
Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions.
Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025)
Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture:
1. Public Health & PGIMER
"PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx.
"Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare.
"Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area.
2. Education & Institutional Governance
"Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms.
"Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking.
3. Art, Culture & Heritage
"Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status.
"Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful."
Signature Style
Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions.
X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More
