Jaipur, 4 Dec 2025: In a landmark medical achievement for Rajasthan, SMS Medical College and Hospital (SMS Hospital), Jaipur successfully performed its first combined cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) on a 65-year-old woman marking the first time such advanced cancer treatment has been carried out in a government hospital in the state.
The complex operation began at 7:30 AM and lasted roughly eight hours, concluding around 3:30 PM. According to Dr. Suresh Singh, Head of the Oncology Surgery Department at SMS, the surgery aimed to remove all visible tumours from the patient’s ovaries and uterus, followed by HIPEC where heated chemotherapy solution (around 42 °C) is circulated inside the peritoneal cavity for 60–90 minutes to destroy residual microscopic cancer cells.
HIPEC, when combined with CRS, is considered among the most advanced treatments for peritoneal (abdominal cavity) cancers such as ovarian, appendix, colon, and peritoneal mesothelioma especially in cases where the cancer has spread beyond visible tumours.
This milestone also carries major implications for affordable cancer care: the state government has included CRS + HIPEC under Ayushman Bharat Arogya Yojana, meaning eligible patients with Ayushman cards can now avail of this surgery free of charge.
In conjunction with the operation, SMS Hospital organised a live surgical workshop attended by oncology specialists and surgeons from across Rajasthan. The procedure was broadcast live, enabling peers to observe each step from tumour removal to HIPEC thereby building capacity for similar high-end surgeries across the state.
According to Dr. Suresh Singh, “This CRS + HIPEC facility in a government hospital is a major step forward for cancer treatment in Rajasthan, giving hope to patients who previously had to rely on expensive private hospitals.”
With this breakthrough, SMS Hospital has significantly strengthened the public health infrastructure for complex oncological care in the region a development many hope will turn the tide for peritoneal cancer patients who previously lacked access to advanced and affordable treatment.