PNS|Vijayawada
Minister for Health Vidadala Rajini has said that to deal with cancer effectively major changes are being initiated in the State under which Regional Cancer Hospitals in Kurnool and Visakhapatnam will be established by September and AP government led by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy offering complete treatment for cancer in Aarogyasri for free.
A review meeting was held on Monday with State Medical and Health Department officials on the major changes brought to AP in providing treatment for cancer. State Government Adviser on Comprehensive Cancer Care Dr. Nori Dattatreyudu attended the review meeting. Principals of all government medical colleges, superintendents of teaching hospitals, senior officials, staff of government cancer hospitals, and representatives of Tata Cancer Care participated in the video conference across the state.
On the occasion, Minister Rajini said that by 2030, no single patient in the state will have to go to neighboring states for cancer treatment. She said that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is working with great determination and is working with high goals in the treatment of cancer. She recalled that in the past, there was no proper treatment for cancer in the state. She mentioned that if governments do not provide proper treatment for cancer, precious lives will have to be lost hence observing this threat, CM Jagan is moving ahead according to a plan.
Minister Rajini claimed that the state government is the only government that is providing medical care to cancer patients regardless of the cost under which 400 cancer procedures are being treated free of charge through Aarogyasri. She mentioned that for this, the government is spending more than Rs 400 crores annually on just one cancer. She said that facilities are being made available to provide cancer treatment in all the government teaching hospitals of the state and the government has sanctioned Rs.118 crores for this purpose.
Minister Rajini said that Rs.46 crores is being spent on the purchase of equipment for cancer treatment in Visakha alone. She said that a regional cancer hospital is being made available in Kurnool with Rs.120 crores.
She further said that Regional cancer hospitals in Visakhapatnam and Kurnool will be available by September. She stated that we are going ahead with the plan to build regional cancer hospitals in two other places as well. Minister Rajini praised CM Jagan who is taking steps to provide comprehensive treatment for cancer at the rate of one hospital in every 50 km radius.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Nori Dattatreyudu, Government Adviser on Comprehensive Cancer Care said that AP is the third state in the country to declare cancer as a notifiable disease. He said that the government is developing the Balaji Institute of Oncology in Tirupati as a regional hub. He said that the government is also taking a special initiative in providing paediatric oncology services and CM Jagan is showing great sincerity to provide comprehensive treatment for cancer free of cost.
MT Krishna Babu, Chief Secretary of the Medical and Health Department, Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Department J. Niwas, Aarogyasri CEO Harindra Prasad, and other senior officials participated.
