TN improving cancer screening, treatment facilities, says Edappadi K Palaniswami
Chennai: The cancer screening and treatment facilities across Tamil Nadu is being enhanced to ensure qualitatively better medicare to the poor, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has said. He said not just on cancer, his government is keen on providing better medicare services to all sections.
“The government, which is functioning on the lofty goal of providing health for all as envisaged by Amma (late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa), is striving to bring qualitatively better medicare to the poor. Last year the government increased the insurance cover per family under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme to Rs 5 lakh from Rs 2 lakh to enable the beneficiaries to avail treatment,” he said.
Tamil Nadu, Mr Palaniswami said, is a leading state not only in providing medicare facilities but also in possessing best human resources and infrastructure. He pointed out that the effective policies and programmes initiated by late Jayalalithaa has helped to improve the quality of life of the patients. “Tamil Nadu is a model State in India for cancer treatment with state-of-the art equipment and methods practiced here in government hospitals,” he said.
About Rs 165 crore has been spent on providing modern equipment at the government hospitals while Rs 60 crore has been spent to establish four regional cancer centres in the State. About 210 private hospitals including Apollo Hospitals have been included in the panel of Hospitals providing treatment to the poor.
The CM was speaking at the inaugural of the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) here on Friday. This centre is South East Asia's first Proton Therapy Centre with a capacity of 150 beds. The APCC focuses on organ-specific cancer management with a dedicated oncology team
“The Proton Therapy Centre at Apollo Hospitals will make this advanced treatment for cancer care easily accessible to patients. Tamil Nadu has always been in the forefront when it comes to healthcare and with the opening of this centre, the State shall continue to offer the best to
the patients. We extend our best wishes to Dr Reddy and his team for this ground-breaking effort to make the best-in-class healthcare facilities available to cancer patients in India and abroad,” Mr Palaniswami said. Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam called upon the people to practice yoga and lead healthy life. He said, “cancer is disease caused by lifestyle changes, societal changes, and environmental problems and it can be prevented by making changes in our daily life. Preventive measures and right treatment can overcome cancer. So, at least once every year, people should undergo cancer screening to detect it early and begin treatment,” he urged.
