NEW DELHI, Dec 2: Cancer cases in the country have witnessed an increase as per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), government told the Lok Sabha.
The cases have increased to 14,51,417 in 2016 from 12,70,781 in 2013, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Faggan Singh Kulaste said citing ICMR’s National Cancer Registry data.
He said treatment of cancer is either free or subsidised in the government healthcare delivery system. The Government under “Strengthening of Tertiary care of Cancer” scheme is assisting to establish/strengthen 20 State cancer Institutes and 50 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres in different parts of the country,” he said while replying during the Question Hour.
BJD MP Balabhadra Majhi raised the issue of increasing cancer patients in his home state Odisha and wanted cancer treatment institute to be set up there.
To this, Kulaste said if the state sends a proposal, the centre will consider that.
To another question, Kulaste said the Centre has been supporting states in strengthening emergency ambulance services by providing technical and financial support.
He said provision of emergency medical ambulance service is the primary responsibility of state governments but under the National Health Mission, technical and financial support is provided to states/ UTs to strengthen their healthcare systems.
This includes support for emergency medical ambulance services based on the proposals submitted by the states and UTs, the MoS health said.
Kulaste said proposals for financial assistance for emergency medical transportation facility were received from all states and UTs during the last three years, except Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep and Gujarat.
Replying another question, the Minister said the Union Health Ministry has already proactively taken measures to adopt IT solutions in existing health infrastructure in meeting challenges of healthcare delivery especially to rural and remote areas to ensure continuum care.
He said the ‘Digital India’ programme introduced is a major step in improving the public healthcare delivery and under it four main initiatives are being taken: online medical consultation, online medical records, online medicine supply and Pan-India exchange of patient information. (PTI)
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