New Chandigarh, May 19
In a significant step towards ensuring accessible healthcare for all, the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCH & RC), Punjab, on Tuesday renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Punjab, to continue extending the benefit of cashless treatment to ESIC beneficiaries.
The MoU was formalised by Dr Ashish Gulia, Director, HBCH&RC Punjab, and Mr Deepak Malik, Regional Director, ESIC, in the presence of Dr Rachita Biswas, Medical Commissioner, ESIC and State Medical Officer Dr Rajiv Chhabra, along with officials from both organisations.
The renewed collaboration aims to ensure that beneficiaries under the ESIC scheme continue to receive quality healthcare services without facing financial constraints. Under the agreement, HBCH&RC provides a comprehensive range of medical services to ESIC beneficiaries, including Outpatient Department (OPD) services, Inpatient Department (IPD) care, diagnostic and laboratory services, emergency, daycare and radiotherapy services.
The association between HBCH&RC and ESIC has already benefited thousands of patients across Punjab. During the financial year 2025–26, a total of 2,395 ESIC card holders availed cashless treatment at the institute’s New Chandigarh campus, while 713 beneficiaries received treatment at the Sangrur campus. On average, nearly 150 beneficiaries utilise ESIC facilities at the institute every month.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ashish Gulia expressed gratitude to ESIC Punjab for its continued support and cooperation. “Partnerships like these are essential in making quality healthcare accessible to all sections of society, especially those who may otherwise face financial challenges in seeking treatment. We remain committed to delivering patient-centric care and ensuring that no patient is deprived of treatment due to economic limitations”, he said.
About the HBCH&RC Punjab
In an endeavor to provide world-class Cancer care to the residents of Punjab and neighbouring states & UTs, Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji had dedicated ‘Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre’ to the Nation at Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar District, Mohali in August, 2022. The Hospital had been built at the cost of over Rs. 660 Crore by Tata Memorial Centre, an aided institute under the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.
The cancer hospital is a tertiary care hospital with a 300-bed capacity. It is equipped with modern facilities to treat all types of cancers using every available treatment modality like Surgery, Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy, immunotherapy and Bone marrow transplant.
The Hospital functions like a ‘hub’ of cancer care and treatment in the region, with the 150 bedded hospital in Sangrur functioning as its ‘spoke’.
Photo caption: Dr Ashish Gulia, Director, HBCH&RC Punjab, and Mr Deepak Malik, Regional Director, ESIC, signing the MoU to extend the benefit of cashless treatment to ESIC beneficiaries at Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre Punjab.
