On World Cancer Day, Punjab Government on Thursday reiterated that the State Government is committed to provide better prevention and treatment facilities for cancer in the State.
Vini Mahajan Principal Secretary Health said that Cancer screening and awareness camps were organised in the identified districts to observe World Cancer Day.
Elaborating about the steps taken by the Government for prevention and treatment of cancer, she said that already a relief of Rs1.5 lakh is given to the cancer patients under the Chief Minister Punjab Cancer Relief Fund and 16 Govt. and Private hospitals have been empanelled under the scheme. She said that 95 types of drugs for treatment of cancer are provided on subsidised rates.
Mahajan said that the state government with the help of Tata Memorial Research Center Mumbai has established Homi Bhaba Cancer Hospital, Treatment and Research Center at Sangrur, where various facilities of treatment of the cancer are already operational. last year, 177 cancer patients availed treatment facilities in this hospital. Similarly, OPD services have been made operational in the Cancer Hospital at Bathinda.
She said Tertiary Care Cancer Hospitals at Fazilka and Hoshiarpur are being established as Government of India has already approved the proposal in principle. The cancer treatment facilities in the three Medical Colleges of the state have also been strengthened with modern equipment and infrastructure.
The Principal Secretary said a State Cancer Institute is also being established at Government Medical College Amritsar at a cost of Rs. 150 Crores. Apart from this 14 districts of Punjab have been covered for special cancer awareness and screening under the NPCDCS programme, whereas the remaining district would also be covered in the coming financial year. She said that this initiative which will further help in prevention of the disease to great extent.