VISAKHAPATNAM: In a first for government healthcare institutions in Andhra Pradesh, King George Hospital (KGH) in Visakhapatnam has launched a clinical trial, offering free immunotherapy treatment to eligible patients diagnosed with Stage-IV lung cancer.
The trial, being conducted by the Department of Medical Oncology, will provide advanced immunotherapy along with chemotherapy to patients aged between 18 and 65 years for up to one year.
According to hospital authorities, the treatment involves an immunotherapy drug that costs `4 lakh per cycle in the private sector. Under the clinical trial, eligible patients will receive the medication free of charge once every three weeks, with a total of 17 cycles planned over a year. KGH is currently the only government cancer centre in the State where this clinical trial is being conducted.
Dr K Shilpa, Head of the Department of Medical Oncology and Principal Investigator of the study, will oversee the trial.
According to hospital officials, the programme is aimed at improving access to advanced treatment options for patients with advanced-stage lung cancer.
New facility a boon for poor patients, says KGH Supt
KGH Superintendent Dr I Vani said the initiative would help patients who may otherwise find such treatment financially inaccessible.
She urged eligible patients to approach the hospital and enrol in the programme after medical evaluation. “Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and immunotherapy has emerged as an important treatment option for certain categories of advanced-stage patients. However, the high cost of treatment has often limited access, particularly in the public healthcare system,” she explained.
She further added that the clinical trial is expected to provide eligible patients access to newer treatment options while contributing to ongoing research in cancer care.
