In a compassionate step aimed at easing the hardships of patients travelling far from home for medical care, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday virtually inaugurated the Arunachal Pradesh Patients’ Guest House at Vellore, Tamil Nadu.The facility, located in Gandhinagar just 4 km from the Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore, will serve as a low-cost and comfortable shelter for patients from Arunachal Pradesh undergoing long-term treatment at one of the country’s most reputed hospitals.
Calling the project “pro-people” and “long-overdue,” CM Khandu said the guest house fulfils a long-pending demand from citizens. “This is a sincere effort by a pro-people government to stand with our citizens during their most difficult times,” he remarked during the virtual launch.According to CMC records, an average of 466 patients from Arunachal Pradesh seek treatment at the hospital every month, adding up to more than 5,500 annually. Many families struggle with the high cost of lodging and meals during extended medical stays. Recognising this challenge, the state government acted to provide an affordable and homely environment for them.The guest house, operated by the General Administration Department in partnership with M/s Blossom Hospitality Services under a three-year Memorandum of Understanding, draws inspiration from a similar cancer patient guest facility in Mumbai. Plans are already in place to build a permanent structure on land allocated by the Health Department.
The building houses 28 rooms—15 air-conditioned at ₹600 per night and 13 non-air-conditioned at ₹400 per night. All rooms are equipped with self-cooking facilities, supported by shared kitchens and dining spaces, allowing patients and caregivers to prepare their own meals in a hygienic setting. Khandu assured continued government support for poor and needy patients through the Chief Minister’s Arogya Arunachal Yojana (CMAY), which provides financial assistance for medical treatment both within and outside the state.
