Jammu State Cancer Institute to be ready by early next year. Setup at a cost of around 120 crores, it is planned to be a state of art institute with all ultra modern facilities and equipment, right from diagnosis/treatment to physiotherapy, factually one of the best. It is really heartening to see Jammu map having AIIMs and Cancer Institute, a fact that present regime has given much required importance to Jammu Healthcare infra which was lagging behind miles as compared to Kashmir valley for decades, no discrimination of allocation of health projects now, be it DRDO hospitals or AIIMS or GMCs or even Cancer Institute. Jammu is still facing severe health infra issues with the result relatives rushing their patients to neighboring Punjab for even minor diseases. Science has changed the life of humans, more comfortable, improved longevity, almost all infectious diseases controlled now a days, but it’s also a fact that non communicable diseases, number one cardiac diseases followed by cancer, are major health wreckers these days. It is a shocking fact that more than 2 million registered cancer cases are getting added each year in India with much younger affected age group, normally diagnosed at later stage with the result poor recovery record. Jammu is no exception as with low level of awareness in the population, lack of screening programmes, lack of diagnostic facilities locally and vast distances to travel, cancer has no doubt ruined numerous families in Jammu, more so in rural area where almost nil facilities are available. With State Cancer Institute going to start soon the focus must now shift simultaneously to place of stay for patients and relatives as it takes much longer time taken for investigations and middle and poor class have limited finances not enough for long outside stay, luckily thanks Ayushman Bharat card which comes handy as far as medicines and treatment. Another important aspect is recruitment of staff, especially best ones in the field of health pan India. It is indeed difficult to have set team of medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, pain and palliative care experts and auxiliary services. Fact is Doctors in Jammu and Kashmir are far less paid as compared to other neighboring states with the result total talent migration. Administration must look into this at the earliest. Recruitment of pharmacists, technicians, nurses should be full time unlike new Emergency Ward of GMC Jammu being taken care by adhoc staff, some even overage now for job, sorry state of affairs indeed with no explanation or excuses. Prevention is best cure as such focus must also be on educating people about cancerous effects of environmental pollution, tobacco, clean water and personnel hygiene especially women. Food adulteration is major contributor in cancer as such departments responsible for adulteration checking must also be made active. Ample space must be allocated to all import diagnostics and testing labs/equipment. Jammu official departments has unique distinction of overlooking things even at conceptual level itself and our upcoming Cancer Institute is no exception. With even COVID oxygen fiasco, it seems nothing was learnt as engineering wing has made no provisions for oxygen generation plant or even a must requisite for any medical facility, Sewage Treatment Plant.
It is just matter of time now, building is ready, all necessary equipment purchases in pipeline, every aspect has been taken care, SCI is almost ready to serve masses. GoI has given us one of the best possible Cancer Institute, onus of taking it to exemplary height lies with local administration now.
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