Free cancer care for all districts

Govt to provide free screening and chemotherapy in 30 dists, palliative care in 10 dists

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Monday announced extension of free cancer screening and chemotherapy facilities in all 30 districts of Odisha. Earlier, it was available in only 15 districts.

At a high level meeting of Health and Family Welfare Department here, it was decided to establish cancer diagnostic facilities in all the districts whereas palliative care will be made available in 10 districts. Patients may even avail such care at their homes.

Earlier, the Government provided free chemotherapy at eight district headquarters hospitals (DHHs) including Capital Hospital here under the second phase of District Cancer Chemotherapy Programme. But now, it would be extended to all 30 districts. For this purpose, the Health Department will train volunteers and ASHA workers for which a long-term plan has also been prepared.

A training centre will be established at Acharya Harichar Regional Cancer Centre (AHRCC) where doctors will be trained on cancer screening and treatment. Similarly, the Government also has plans to train surgery and gynaecology and obstetrician specialists. The meeting also decided to set up radiotherapy centres at four places of the State.

Meanwhile, a cancer consultation camp was organised as part of the District Cancer Chemotherapy Programme at Capital Hospital. Senior oncologist from Mumbai Dr Dinesh Pendharkar supervised the camp which was attended by more than 50 cancer patients.

A majority of the patients who sought consultation have already been diagnosed with GI tract cancer while breast and oral cancer patients were also substantial in number. It was found that most of the patients required chemotherapy.

The District Cancer Chemotherapy Programme is currently available at Puri, Kalahandi, Jharsuguda, Rourkela, Balangir, Nuapada and Rayagada apart from the Capital Hospital.

Odisha is the second State in the country to start cancer chemotherapy at district hospitals after Madhya Pradesh. More than 3,400 chemotherapy cycles have already been administered in the first phase of the programme within nine months of the launch of the initiative. A large number of patients have also been provided consultancy at the DHHs. The entire programme is funded by Odisha Government, State Nodal officer, Non-Communicable Diseases Dr PKB Patnaik said.

Dr Pendharkar along with Dr Patnaik and doctors from AHRCC will hold similar camps in Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Balangir in next two days.