Chennai: The Central government has approved proposals for setting up of 15 state cancer institutes and 20 tertiary care cancer centres across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.
Inaugurating the diamond jubilee building, palliative care centre, day care centre and nurses quarters at the Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar, here, he said 14 new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are being set up, with focus on oncology in its various aspects.The Centre plans to set up 20 state cancer institutes (SCIs) and 50 tertiary care cancer centres in different parts of the country.
Proposals can be approved, for eligible institutions, up to Rs 45 crore for setting up of tertiary care cancer centre and up to Rs 120 crore for establishing State Cancer Institute. “Under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya SurakshaYojana, eight existing institutions are being upgraded with provision of oncology services. Under the Comprehensive Primary Health Care aspect of Ayushman Bharat, we will provide preventive and curative services at primary care level to people near their homes. We have initiated population-based prevention, control, screening and management of common non-communicable diseases such as Diabetes, Hypertension and common Cancers,” Modi said.
The Ayushman Bharat, which also includes the Pradhan Mantri National Health Protection Mission, covering over 10 crore families with insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family, per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation, is the world's largest government funded healthcare programme. The benefits of the scheme will be portable across the country and the scheme intends to reduce out of pocket expenditure on health, Mr Modi said.
“To prevent, control and manage diseases like cancer we need action from all sections of society including NGOs and private sector,” the Prime Minister said and noted that the Cancer Institute, Adyar, is one of the oldest and most significant comprehensive cancer care centers in India.
Pointing out that changing lifestyles are adding to the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCD), he said some estimates pointed out that NCD now account for about 60 per cent of total deaths in the country.
“Dr Shanta in her opening speech, mentioned about some of the difficulties being faced by the Institute. I would like to assure her that we would look into them and I would also request the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to see what can be done," he said. Modi also extended his greetings to the people on the occasion of the Vilambhi Tamil New Year on April 14. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam and Dr V. Shanta, chairman of Cancer Institute, spoke on the occasion.
