VIJAYAWADA: The State government is set to roll out a major health initiative to combat rising fatalities from cancer and heart disease, with a dual focus on universal cancer screenings and a specialised rapid-response system for heart attacks.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is set to inaugurate the programmes on Wednesday, marking a significant step in addressing two of the State’s leading health threats.
The initiative, led by the Health, Medical, and Family Welfare Department, is in response to alarming State and national statistics. Cancer and heart disease rank among the top causes of death, with the State recording over 73,000 new cancer cases and 40,000 related deaths annually. Nationally, an estimated 1.4 million new cancer cases lead to 9,00,000 deaths each year. To tackle these numbers, the State government allocated more than Rs 680 crore in the previous fiscal year for cancer care, according to the department.
The cancer screening programme aims to provide universal access to early detection. Community Health Officers (CHOs) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) will conduct door-to-door screenings for oral, breast, and cervical cancers across the State. A specialised mobile application will transmit screening results to government hospitals and NTR Vaidya Seva-affiliated facilities, enabling timely diagnosis and intervention.
The Health Department has urged residents over 18 years of age to participate, stressing that early detection can save lives and reduce treatment costs. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) will accompany patients in need of follow-up care, offering essential support throughout their treatment journey.
Additionally, the State will launch a dedicated STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) programme, intended to mitigate heart attack deaths by ensuring swift medical response. Based on research highlighting that prompt intervention within the first hour of chest pain can drastically lower heart attack mortality, the programme has established a network of 238 community health centres and area hospitals as local ‘spokes.’ These connect to 37 ‘hub’ hospitals equipped to handle acute cardiac cases, including 11 government general hospitals and 26 private facilities under NTR Vaidya Seva.
When a patient reports chest pain, a medical officer at the spoke hospital will conduct an ECG and send results to a hub hospital for immediate review. Cardiologists at the hub may recommend a lifesaving injection of Tenecteplase, priced at Rs 45,000, to restore blood flow. Once stabilised, patients will be transferred to the hub hospital for comprehensive treatment.
To ensure a smooth rollout, Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav and Principal Secretary MT Krishna Babu, along with senior officials, met to finalise implementation plans.