Himachal Pradesh Govt to Offer Free Cancer Treatment & Medicines

The state government will supply 42 medicines free of cost to cancer patients receiving treatment in government hospitals.

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that the state will provide free treatment and medicines to cancer patients.

This significant healthcare initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on cancer patients and enhance the quality of care available in the state. 

The announcement was made during the first meeting of the State Advisory Board on Cancer and Palliative Care Program.

Free Medicines & Essential List Inclusions

According to the initiative, the state government will supply 42 medicines free of cost to cancer patients receiving treatment in government hospitals. These medicines have been included in the state's essential medicine list.

Among the free medicines is the expensive Trastuzumab vaccine, used for breast cancer treatment, which costs approximately INR 40,000 per dose.

A breast cancer patient typically requires 18 doses annually, amounting to around INR 7 Lakh per patient. These medicines will be accessible at various government hospitals across the state.

CM Sukhu expressed concern over the high number of cancer cases reported in Himachal Pradesh, which ranks second in the country after the northeastern states.

"In view of this, this decision has been taken to provide relief to cancer patients. This facility will be provided in various government hospitals," he stated.

The state government has allocated INR 300 Cr to enhance cancer treatment facilities.

This includes INR 75 Cr for developing infrastructure at the Center of Excellence for Cancer Care in Hamirpur, INR 75 Cr for a bone marrow transplant facility in Chamiyana, Shimla, and INR 150 Cr for world-class cancer treatment equipment at the Hamirpur Center of Excellence.

Expansion of Cancer Care Centers

The state government plans to establish cancer daycare centers in a phased manner across Himachal Pradesh. In the first phase, centers have been set up in 13 hospitals.

The second phase will see these centers established in 27 high-load civil hospitals and community health centers. In the third phase, cancer daycare centers will be set up in 28 additional institutions.

These centers will also house palliative care units to provide comprehensive support to cancer patients.

The Cancer Care Center of Excellence in Hamirpur will adopt world-class technology, including a special department of nuclear medicine with a large-capacity nuclear lab and cyclotron. This facility aims to provide cutting-edge treatment and diagnostic services.

Further, the Atal Institute Of Medical Super-Specialities in Chamiyana, Shimla, will soon offer bone marrow transplantation services. Additionally, a population-based cancer registry will be established to study and track cancer cases across the state.

A pilot project for cancer screening will begin in one district, with plans for expansion based on its success.

Health Minister Dr (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil provided valuable suggestions during the meeting.

Other notable attendees included Health Secretary M Sudha Devi, Mission Director of the National Health Mission Priyanka Verma, cancer experts Prof GK Rath, Dr Dinesh Pendharkar, Dr CM Tripathi, Director of Health Dr Gopal Beri, Director of Medical Education Dr Rakesh Sharma, and other senior officials.

CM Sukhu emphasized the state government's commitment to public welfare, highlighting the importance of providing better health facilities as part of this commitment.

"We all know that health is wealth. Healthcare is a major social security, and it is our commitment to extend to the common people maximum social security in this area to ensure their good health and well-being," he said.