Harish Rao launches first day-care centre for chemotherapy in Siddipet

HYDERABAD: Telangana is making a significant move in cancer care with the launch of the first day care chemo therapy center in Siddipet, according to Finance and Health Minister T Harish Rao.

With plans to establish similar facilities in eight medical colleges and 33 districts, cancer patients would no longer have to travel long distances, leave work, and wait days for treatment, he said after inaugurating the centre on Sunday.

The Siddipet center has four beds and offers 60 types of medicines, supplied from the renowned MNJ Cancer Hospital.

Patients referred by MNJ and NIMS hospitals can access the chemo services here, with each patient requiring six to eight cycles of chemo, with a gap of three to four weeks between each cycle, taking an average of five to six hours.

In total, the government is providing medical care worth Rs.4 lakh free of charge, with CBP, RFT, LFT tests required for every chemo patient, every cycle. Patients receive tele-consultation services from the center and can also undergo essential tests like FBS and PLBS for diabetic cases, and ECG and 2D ECHO for cardiac cases.

With 468 cancer cases in Siddipet, including breast cancer, cervical cancer, oral cancer, lung cancer, rectum cancer, thyroid cancer, and other cancer cases, the government is taking all kinds of measures to control cancer.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao ordered special attention to cancer, focusing on early detection and better treatment, with mobile screening conducted in districts and remote areas.

Through the Arogyashri scheme, the government has spent over Rs. 800 crore on cancer care from 2014, with MNJ and NIMS hospitals providing essential treatment to cancer patients across the State.

The government is taking steps to develop MNJ Hospital as a State cancer center, with advanced equipment like True BEAM and PET scan already installed.

In addition to essential treatments, the government is offering palliative care services in 33 districts to provide care to terminally ill patients, standing by cancer victims with specially arranged waiting vehicles.

Through the Telangana Diagnostic Scheme, the State offers state-of-the-art services required for detecting cancer, while the Telangana Health Profile Scheme is identifying common cancers at the primary stage.

The government is making arrangements to create awareness among the people and change their habits to prevent cancer, urging citizens to practice healthy habits, avoid cigarettes and tobacco, eat a vegetarian diet, and engage in physical activity and exercise.

"With its tireless efforts in cancer care, the Telangana government is leading the way in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, bringing hope to patients and their families across the state," said Harish Rao.