In a major step towards expanding access to affordable cancer care, the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCH&RC), Punjab, has now been empanelled with the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Haryana, for the first time.With this empanelment, ESIC Haryana beneficiaries and staff members will now be able to avail cashless treatment facilities at both the New Chandigarh and Sangrur campuses of the institute.The MoU to this effect was formalised by Dr Ashish Gulia, Director, HBCH&RC Punjab, and Hari Om Prakash, Regional Director of ESIC Haryana, in the presence of Dr Abhishek Rai, State Medical Officer Haryana, and officials from both organisations. HBCH&RC is a unit of Tata Memorial Centre, an aided institute of the Department of Atomic Energy.HBCH&RC Punjab is already empanelled with ESIC Punjab, ESIC Chandigarh, ESIC Ludhiana and ESIC Himachal Pradesh. From April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, around 3,000 ESIC card holders received cashless treatment at HBCH&RC Punjab, highlighting the growing trust of beneficiaries in the institute’s specialised cancer care services.Under the ESIC scheme, beneficiaries can avail a wide range of healthcare services at the institute, including Outpatient Department (OPD) services, Inpatient Department (IPD) care, diagnostic and laboratory services, emergency, day-care and radiotherapy services.Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ashish Gulia, Director, HBCH&RC Punjab, said, “The empanelment with ESIC Haryana marks another important milestone in our mission to make quality cancer care accessible and affordable for all sections of society. We remain committed to delivering patient-centric care and ensuring that no patient is deprived of treatment due to economic limitations.”