Guwahati: Assam health minister Ashok Singhal told the assembly on Tuesday that the state govt has expanded cancer prevention, detection and treatment by strengthening healthcare infrastructure, improving access to affordable care and promoting early diagnosis.Replying to a question by MLA Bikan Ch Deka during Question Hour, Singhal said the govt is building a statewide network of cancer centres and public health initiatives, with a focus on early detection through free screening under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. He said 46 lakh people have been screened in Assam so far.Singhal said the Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF), a joint initiative of the state govt and Tata Trusts, anchors the programme. He said 17 Cancer Care Centres have been approved, with 12 already functional at Dibrugarh, Barpeta, Silchar, Jorhat, Tezpur, Lakhimpur, Darrang, Golaghat, Tinsukia and the State Cancer Institute at Gauhati Medical College, which he said serves as the apex cancer treatment centre.“The remaining five centres at Dhubri, Sivasagar, Nalbari, Nagaon and Goalpara are under construction and are expected to become operational soon. In addition, nine Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) are being established under the National Health Mission to bring chemotherapy services closer to patients,” he added.The minister said free screening is being provided for adults aged 30 years and above for oral, breast and cervical cancers. He said Mobile Medical Units, Village Health Outreach Programme teams and ACCF community outreach teams are extending services to remote and underserved areas, along with awareness drives and screening camps in schools, colleges and communities.“To make treatment affordable, cancer care has been brought under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) and Mukhyamantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana (MMLSAY). Patients covered under PM-JAY receive completely free cancer treatment, including medicines, while treatment at govt hospitals is available at nominal cost. Atal Amrit Pharmacies have also been established to provide essential medicines at subsidised prices, and economically weaker patients are supported through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives,” he added.Singhal said paediatric oncology facilities are available at the State Cancer Institute in Guwahati and the Dibrugarh Cancer Centre, with plans to extend services to other ACCF hospitals as specialists become available. He said ACCF is also supporting HPV vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14 years to prevent cervical cancer.Singhal said the govt’s objective is to ensure cancer treatment is available beyond Guwahati through a decentralised network so patients can receive diagnosis and care closer to home.
