VARANASI, 20.12.2023: Keeping the interest of patients at the core and with an aim to fostering academic and research initiatives for greater benefit of the society, Banaras Hindu University has entered into an understanding with the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Cancer Centre, Varanasi. The understanding signed on Tuesday in the presence of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sudhir Kumar Jain and Dr. Satyajit Pradhan, Director, HBCH & MPMMCC, aims to take the benefit of advanced and state-of-the-art medical facilities to a larger number of people, while benefiting from each other’s strengths and specializations. Prof. Rajendra Badwe, Professor Emeritus & Former Director, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, was also present on the occasion.
As per the MoU, patients undergoing treatment at Institute of Medical Sciences, BHU, will now be able to get special investigations done which are not available in BHU, at special subsidized rates. The rates have already been worked out by HBCH & MPMMCC for IMS patients. The understanding also paves the way for a credit treatment facility for BHU employees and their dependents through the process of empanelment as per CGHS. Both the institutions will formalize the modalities in that regard.
The institutions have also decided to carry out joint academic and research activities for the greater benefit of the society. The MoU provides for combined research endeavors in all branches of science, engineering, medicine and other interdisciplinary areas. This means that the collaboration isn’t confined only to medical research or health sciences. Additionally, it offers exchange of students, faculty and researchers. Besides, medical staff of both the institutions will also be provided an opportunity to work for specified durations at the other institute so as to adapt to best practices and improve patient care and services. Faculty and researchers of the institutes will now be able to use infrastructure at the other institute for research and academic purposes.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sudhir Kumar Jain said that the Institute of Medical Sciences of Banaras Hindu University is moving forward with patient care at the heart of its policies and approach. The MoU with Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, which is a result of detailed parleys between the two institutions, hands us an opportunity to take another step in catering to the needs to the people who come to BHU for treatment. Prof. Jain said that the expertise and experience of BHU & HMCH and MPMMCC could have a multiplier effect once they start working together.
Prof. Satyajit Pradhan, Director, HMCH and MPMMCC, said this MoU will prove to be a milestone for both the institutions in the field of service, education and research. Both the institutions together will collaborate in promoting the values and ideals of Bharat Ratna Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya ji. Through this MoU, cancer patients registered in MPMMCC and IMS BHU will get seamless, comprehensive and affordable cancer treatment at our institute. This will also facilitate knowledge exchange and research activities among the students and faculties of both the institutions.
Prof. Rajendra Badwe, Professor Emeritus & Former Director, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, said, “Collaborating with Banaras Hindu University offers a plethora of opportunities, in addressing common as well as unique challenges that are faced by us in the course of cancer treatment. We must explore the possibilities of wider and multi-area collaboration in the larger interest and create the maximum impact, which I feel is in our reach as we join hands”.
Registrar, Banaras Hindu University, Prof. Arun Kumar Singh, and Sh. Madho Singh, Director, Administration, HBCH & MPMMCC, signed the MoU. Those present during the signing of the MoU included Prof. S. N. Sankhwar, Director, Institute of Medical Sciences, Prof. S. K. Singh, Dean, Faculty of Modern Medicine, Prof. Ashok Choudhary, Dean, Research, Prof. K K Gupta, Medical Superintendent, Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Prof. Saurabh Singh, Professor In Charge, Trauma Centre, Prof. Ankur Singh, Deputy Medical Superintendent, Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Prof. Mallika Tiwari, Department of Surgical Oncology, IMS, Prof. Sunil Choudhary, Department of Radiotherapy & Radiation Medicine, and Dr. Abhay Thakur, Finance Officer.
From HBCH & MPMMCC, Dr. B. K. Mishra, Deputy Director, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, Dr. Akash Anand Srivastava, Medical Superintendent, and Sh. Biresh Chaubey, Chief Administrative Officer, were among those who were present.