Eight lakh cancer patients being treated in Maharashtra : Health minister Tope

Mumbai, February 3, 2020 : Various measures have been undertaken by the health department of the state for diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. More than eight lakh cancer patients have been treated under the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana. Chemotherapy units are started in 14 districts and till date 2800 patients have been given treatment. Maharashtra Cancer Warrior is discharging its service in 23 districts for creating awareness about cancer and treatment of patients suffering from the disease. Till date, 40 thousand patients have been screened through the Warrior. This information was given by Health Minister Mr Rajesh Tope.

The Chemotherapy units have been started in Amravati, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Sindhudurg, Satara, Nashik, Pune, Jalgaon, Akola, Wardha, Ratnagiri, Jalna, Nandurbar districts of the state. The physicians and nurses in Kolhapur and Osmanabad districts are imparted training for Chemotherapy. Training programs are also conducted in Thane, Raigad, Ahmednagar, Parbhani, Hingoli, Buldhana Washim districts.

Presently the screening program had been undertaken based on ppulation for controlling cancer. Every household and every member of the family is included in the survey undertaken in all the districts through the medium of Asha activists and ANM. The campaign for creating awareness against cancer is on in the rural areas of entire state with the help of doctors who have been trained and specialized in Cancer from Tata hospital and doctors engage in medical practice in the state. All the experts have come together to form ‘Maharashtra Cancer Warrior Organization’. It includes 59 experts who are degree holders in Oncology from the Tata Hospital. They are giving their valuable services in the village without charging the patients.

Presently, the service is provided by the Cancer Warrior in 23 districts of the state which include Amravati, Bhandara, Gadchiroli, Yavatmal, Chandrapur, Gondia, Wardha, Nandurbar, Parbhani, Satara, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Thane, Ratnagiri, Ahmednagar, Kolhapur, Jalgaon, Sangli, Latur, Akola, Nashik, Aurangabad, Pune and Beed. 40 thousand patients have been checked in last three years and 3200 surgeries were performed, the health minister added.

Mr Rajesh Tope further said that the campaign was run in the state during 31st May to 30 June during the no Tobacco Day. Eight lakh, 27 thousand, 972 patients were screened during this period. The treatment for cancer is been made available at the reference service hospitals in Nashik and Amravati districts, the health minister added.