Goa: The Ministry of Ayush has inaugurated the Integrative Oncology Research and Care Centre (IORCC) at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Dhargal, Goa. The centre was opened on the 10th National Ayurveda Day in the presence of Goa Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
The IORCC is being described as the first dedicated facility in India to combine Ayurveda and allied traditional therapies with conventional cancer treatments. The institute will focus on rehabilitation and supportive care for cancer patients, using a mix of Ayurveda, Yoga, Physiotherapy, Diet Therapy, Panchakarma, and modern oncology practices. According to the Ministry, the centre aims to provide a patient-centric model that helps reduce side effects of conventional treatment while supporting recovery and immunity.
The initiative has been developed in collaboration with the Government of Goa, AIIA Goa, and the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) of Tata Memorial Centre. Officials said the facility is intended as a research-based model that could be scaled across other states if found effective.
Prof. Sujata Kadam, Dean of AIIA Goa, will chair the centre, while Sanjay Khedekar will serve as convener. The clinical team includes oncologists such as Dr. Shekhar Salkar along with faculty from AIIA. Their role will be to evaluate how integrative therapies can complement mainstream oncology and generate evidence to guide future policy.
The launch of IORCC marks an attempt to formalise integrative medicine in India’s cancer care landscape. By combining traditional practices with evidence-based modern medicine, the government is positioning the centre as part of a broader strategy to explore non-conventional approaches within the public healthcare system.
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