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Punjab

Balbir Singh Sidhu launches month-long Cancer Awareness campaign

November 08, 2019 10:24 AM

CHANDIGARH:Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna proving boon for cancer patients
Over 485 cancer patients being provided treatment at cost of Rs. 1.5 cr. in 2 months under the SSBY

With a view to making people aware about Non-communicable diseases especially cancer, the Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu has launched a month long campaign by flagging off an awareness van.

While addressing on the occasion, Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that this special awareness van had been flagged off under the state government’s Tandarust Punjab Mission in observance of ‘National Cancer Awareness day’.  It is call of the day to aware the masses about non-communicable diseases especially cancer besides diagnosing these diseases at early stages to provide requisite treatment.   The Minister further said that to identify the suspected cases of cancer, Captain led Punjab Government had initiated the Door to Door screening program for the people above the age of 30 year for Cancer, Diabetes and Hypertension. He said that Established NCD Clinics at every District Hospital / Sub Divisional Hospital / Community Health Centre. From year 2017 to 25, 45, 770 individuals have been screened for NCDs out of which approximately 12.7% diagnosed with diabetes, 16.4% with hypertension and 0.13% with cancer.  He said that these identified patients had been provided the further healthcare services by the health department.

Elaborating about the state government’s various schemes to combat with cancer and other diseases, besides the Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Raahat Kosh Scheme, Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna is also proving helpful to provide treatment to cancer patients at multi-specialist hospitals. He said that so far over 485 patients were being provided the treatment at the cost of Rs. 1.5 cr. across the State. He said that Health Department would not leave no stone unturned to control the out of pocket expenditure so that every citizen should feel secure and safe.

Apart from strengthening of public hospitals, State Government would soon empanelled more private hospitals to provide secondary & tertiary healthcare services in rural and remote area of Punjab, added Sidhu.   

Giving detail about the Government hospitals for Cancer Patients, the Minister said that a 100 bedded Advanced Cancer Diagnostic Treatment and Research Centre is operational in district Bathinda. He said that Homi Bhabha Cancer care facility in Sangrur had been established in collaboration with TMC, and all Medical Colleges in the State had been provided with State of the Art equipment for the treatment of cancer patients. Apart from that, Tertiary cancer care centres (TCCC) in Fazilka and State Cancer Institute are being established in Amritsar and Stroke Ready Units are established in all three Government Medical Colleges Amritsar, Faridkot and Patiala and District Hospital, Bathinda, Fazilka, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Sangrur.

The minister further said that free Travel Facility in Punjab Roadways & PRTC buses is provided for cancer patients for availing treatment.

The launch event was attended, among others, by Director Health & Family Welfare Dr. Avneet Kaur, OSD to the health minister Dr Balwinder Singh, Political Secretary to health Minister Mr. Harkeshchand Sharma, State Nodal Officer Dr. G.B Singh.  


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