Assam to Launch Cancer Care Foundation for Inexpensive TreatmentHot Buzz

June 18, 2018 10:58
Assam to Launch Cancer Care Foundation for Inexpensive Treatment

(Image source from: Northeast Today)

Assam is scheduled to launch a cancer care foundation, the first ever foundation for any state government in India, for making treatment for the deadly disease more affordable and ensuring care for patients till survival.

According to Indian Council for Medical Research report, in 2016, 31,825 new cancer cases have been recorded in Assam. Yet, health officials in the state said the actual number of cancer cases could be twice that number since most of those who are perceived with the disease leave the state in order to access amended cancer care.

"A recent study found that more than 70 percent of the cost incurred by patients getting treated is due to peripheral expenses such as stay, travel, and food. This was the reason our government initiated the non-profit Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF), a pioneering model for making cancer care more affordable and address all aspects from awareness to end-of-life care," Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Health Minister, said.

He further said, ACCF is in partnership with Tata Trusts, which has committed to provide Rs. 830 crore for the programme while the State government will provide Rs. 1,080 crore.

The cancer care project has been designed to address three aspects of cancer care: service, education, and research with the objective of shifting care closer to patients homes. Accordingly, five district hospitals would be providing diagnostics and daycare follow-up. These hospitals are in Darrang, Dima Hasao, Goalpara, Golaghat, and Sivasagar districts. Cancer centers adjacent to four existing and eight upcoming medical colleges across Assam will also provide comprehensive treatment and education, he added.

At the two major medical college hospitals, Guwahati and Dibrugarh the cancer centers have been undertaken with advance and complex care along with cancer research.

"The facilities will provide treatment at rates on par with or below the Central government health scheme rates. It is expected that a large number of patients will receive cashless treatment at these facilities through Atal Amrit Abhiyan and Ayushman Bharat schemes," a health official said on Sunday after Sarma and industrialist Ratan Tata inaugurated a digital information nerve center at Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

By Sowmya Sangam

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