Pune, 28 June 2025: A new 400-bed government cancer hospital will be constructed near Sassoon Hospital in Pune. The hospital is planned on a Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) plot in Mangalwar Peth, which will be handed over to the Medical Education Department, said Minister of State for Medical Education Madhuri Misal.
Misal held a review meeting at B.J. Medical College on Friday (27th) to discuss various issues and pending demands related to Sassoon Hospital. During the meeting, attended by MLA Hemant Rasane, Sassoon Dean Dr. Eknath Pawar, and Deputy Dean Dr. Rajesh Karyakarte, Misal assured officials that the MSRDC land would be reallocated for the proposed cancer hospital.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Misal confirmed that the process to transfer the land back to the department has begun. “The proposal has been submitted to MSRDC, and meetings have been held with the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. We are hopeful the land will be returned, although a specific timeline is not yet confirmed,” she said.
The land in question, about 2 to 2.5 acres opposite Sassoon Hospital, had earlier been reserved for the cancer hospital. However, MSRDC had recently decided to lease it to a private developer for 99 years in return for ₹70 crore. Misal’s assurance has revived hopes of reclaiming the land for public healthcare.
₹860 Crore Proposal Submitted
Dr. Eknath Pawar shared that a proposal worth ₹860 crore has been submitted to the government for the construction of the cancer hospital. The plan includes the building structure, electrification, ambulances, medical equipment, staffing, radiation therapy setup, protective walls, and sterilization systems.
Poor Patients Continue to Struggle
With the number of cancer patients rising steadily, the lack of a dedicated government cancer hospital in Pune has become a serious issue. Private hospitals are unaffordable for economically weaker sections. While chemotherapy and surgeries are available at Sassoon Hospital, radiation therapy is not, forcing patients to seek treatment elsewhere. A separate government-run cancer facility is urgently needed to bridge this gap.