Shimla, August 5, 2024 - Alarmed by a sudden spike in cancer cases, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here today has announced that the state government will provide free treatment and medicines to cancer patients in Himachal Pradesh.
But no one knows the reason why there is a sudden spike in number of cancer cases in Himachal .
One view is that Himachal has increased its cancer screening and monitoring that has led to detect cancer at an early stage. This in turn has led to an increase in number of cases in the state.
During the first meeting of the State Advisory Board on Cancer and Palliative Care Program, the CM revealed that 42 essential medicines, now part of the state's essential medicine list, will be available at no cost in government hospitals.
But most of the medicines in the cancer hospitals were already given free to the patients
The announcement comes in light of Himachal Pradesh being the second state with the highest number of cancer cases in India, following the northeastern states.
One of the crucial medicines, the Trastuzumab vaccine for breast cancer, costing around Rs 40,000 per dose, will also be provided for free, saving each patient Rs 7 lakh annually.
The CM also unveiled a substantial Rs. 300 crore investment to enhance cancer treatment facilities across the state.
This includes Rs. 75 crore each for developing the infrastructure of the Center of Excellence in Cancer Care at Hamirpur and for a bone marrow transplant facility in Chamiyana, Shimla.
An additional Rs. 150 crore will be allocated to equip the Hamirpur center with world-class cancer treatment technology, CM said.
The state government is setting up cancer day care centers in a phased manner.
The first phase includes 13 hospitals, with plans to expand to 27 more civil hospitals and community health centers, followed by 28 additional institutions. These centers will also offer palliative care services.
A special department of nuclear medicine, complete with a large-capacity nuclear lab and cyclotron, will be established at the Cancer Care Centre of Excellence in Hamirpur.
Furthermore, the Atal Institute Of Medical Super-Specialities in Chamiyana, Shimla, will soon start offering bone marrow transplantation services.
The state will also implement a population-based cancer registry to monitor and study cancer cases. A pilot project for cancer screening will be launched in one district to facilitate early detection.
Health Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil, Secretary Health M. Sudha Devi, and other senior officials, along with renowned cancer experts, participated in the meeting, contributing valuable suggestions.
This initiative marks a significant step towards better healthcare and support for cancer patients in Himachal Pradesh.
