In a significant development for cancer care in Gujarat, the Shree Nathalal Parekh Cancer Institute, affiliated with the Rajkot Cancer Society, has officially inaugurated Project Raktjyoti. This initiative establishes the first dedicated bone marrow transplant (BMT), cellular therapy (CAR-T), and comprehensive haematology unit in the Saurashtra and Kutch regions. Operating as a charitable trust hospital, the institute provides affordable and subsidized treatment to patients in need.
Bridging a Critical Healthcare Gap
The state-of-the-art facility aims to address a major healthcare disparity by bringing advanced haematological treatments closer to home. Previously, patients from the region requiring intensive chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants, or cellular therapies had to travel to metropolitan cities such as Mumbai and Ahmedabad, often facing significant financial, emotional, and logistical burdens.
Comprehensive Services Offered
The new unit offers diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of blood cancers and haematological disorders, including acute and chronic leukemias, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, thalassemia, haemophilia, and sickle cell disease. Advanced treatment modalities available under Project Raktjyoti include both autologous and allogenic bone marrow transplantation, CAR-T cell therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted precision oncology.
First Successful Transplant Achieved
Demonstrating the immediate impact and clinical readiness of the programme, the hospital has already achieved a major milestone: the successful completion of its first autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The procedure was performed on an elderly female patient suffering from multiple myeloma, who has recovered successfully and was recently discharged.
Vision and Implementation
Project Raktjyoti materialized through the vision of the hospital’s medical director and head and neck oncosurgeon, Dr Khyati Vasavda, under the guidance of the governing council led by chairman Gaurang Sanghvi and trustee Dr J J Kalaria. Dr Vasavda noted, "The challenge was that we had no trained staff, no guidelines for equipment set up. We sent our medical officers and nursing staff to get trained at specialized hospitals in Mumbai and Pune before starting this unit."
Commitment to Patient-Centred Care
Representatives of the cancer institute emphasized that the comprehensive oncology centre remains committed to patient-centred care and state-of-the-art technology. Calling the launch a transformative journey, the institute stated, "Project Raktjyoti is more than a healthcare initiative — it is a beacon of hope for patients and families across Saurashtra and Kutch, ensuring access to advanced blood disorder and blood cancer treatments closer to home."
