Govt to provide Rs1 lakh each to 100 cancer patients

The government will provide Rs1 lakh each as support for chemotherapy drugs to 100 patients in as many districts under its national programme to control cancer and other non-communicable diseases.

Common diagnostic services, basic surgery, chemotherapy and palliative care are being made available at 100 district hospitals in 21 states under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS).

Support for chemotherapy drugs to 100 patients at each district hospital will be provided at a cost of Rs1 crore per annum, officials said. Day care chemotherapy facilities will also be established at these hospitals.

Facility for laboratory investigations including mammography, home-based palliative care for chronic, debilitating and progressive cancer patients and support for contractual manpower and equipment for management of cancer cases will also be provided in these select hospitals.

The 100 districts were selected on the basis of backwardness, inaccessibility and low healthcare indicators. The government plans to extend the national programme across the country under the 12th Five Year Plan.