Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday said a centrally-funded cancer institute in Hamirpur district is on the cards. Sukhu said this after a meeting in Delhi with oncologist Dr G K Rath, who heads the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at AIIMS.
The chief minister held discussions with Rath on strengthening cancer treatment facilities and overall health infrastructure in the state, a statement issued here said. Sukhu said cancer cases in Himachal Pradesh were rising alarmingly with a growth rate of 2.2 percent against the country's overall growth rate of 0.6 percent. He said though 8,500 cancer cases were detected every year on average, many cases went unreported in the remotest belts of the state, the statement said.
He urged the authorities concerned to hold cancer awareness programmes and organise workshops in collaboration with the NCI. He also asked them to ramp up screening so that proper treatment could be provided to the patients at the early stages of cancer.
Rath apprised the chief minister that 50 percent of cancer cases are curable and also briefed him about the latest technologies available for cancer treatment.
''It is my priority to provide the best health facilities to everyone in the state,'' Sukhu said. During the meeting, discussions were also held on the possibility of launching a pilot project for vaccination of adolescent girls to ensure a healthy future population in the state, it said.
