1. Home
2. Jammu

Govt taking measures to tackle rising incidence of Cancer: Bali Bhagat

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 2/10/2018 8:00:35 PM

The Government Saturday said that various measures are being taken for detection and treatment of cancer within the state in view of the growing number of patients suffering from the disease.



Replying to a Calling Attention Notice by Legislator Ali Mohammad Sagar on the issue, the Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Baghat said that every effort is also being made by the Government to help the needy cancer patients living below poverty line as they are being provided free consultation and anti-cancer drugs on subsidized rates.



He said the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) at SKIMS Soura has been given the status of State Cancer Institute (SCI) for which state-of-the art equipment has been purchased and Oncology Specialties are being upgraded. He said recently the PET-CT Scan, which can detect cancer cells metastasis, was installed at SKIMS and so far 20 procedures have been conducted.



He further informed that installation of Linear Accelerator at estimated cost of Rs 15.50 crore including civil works is under progress in the Radiation Oncology Department of SMHS Hospital Srinagar which shall be made functional by June this year.



In Jammu, he said, the process for establishing a Cancer Institute and Nuclear Medicine Department in the GMC Jammu has been also initiated.



The Minister further informed the house that Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has sanctioned 2 Cancer Institutes at the cost of Rs 120 crore each in the year 2014-15 at SKIMS Soura and Government Medical College Jammu. “Besides this 3 Tertiary Cancer Care Centres (TCCC) at a cost of Rs 45 crore each for Udhampur, Kishtwar and Kupwara has also been approved by Government of India,” he added.



The Minister expressed concern over the rising trend in the incidence of Cancer in the state especially in Kashmir valley and revealed that 26214 cases have been reported since 2011.