Cancer In Telangana: Telangana Health Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha on Tuesday declared cancer as a notifiable disease and launched a cancer registry, marking a big move to improve cancer care in the state. The southern state reports 55,000 to 60,000 new cancer cases every year.
Expressing his concerns over the huge number of cases, the minister said every cancer case would be registered with the announcement of cancer as a notifiable disease.
"Free lung cancer treatment for patients in 20 government hospitals using AI technology. Health authorities sign MoU with AstraZeneca to conduct screening," the minister posted on X.
How Notification Of Cancer Helps People
A notifiable disease means an illness that is legally required to be reported to government health authorities by healthcare providers. The cancer registry would help the government in having accurate data for preparing better plans to deal with the spread of cancer.
The state government has expanded healthcare to treat cancer by establishing Day Care Cancer Centres in district headquarters towns, he said. The government is conducting health checks for 46 lakh members of women self-help groups (SHGs). With the notification, cancer will remain in focus in the state policy. The government would start Regional Cancer Centres and take measures to detect diseases like cancer through AI.
Recommended For You
The minister said this while attending World Health Day celebrations and inaugurated a LINAC (Linear Accelerator) in the cancer block of the state-run Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) here, an official release said.
The health minister launched several initiatives, including a comprehensive trauma care policy to help victims of accidents and other emergencies. The health department entered into an agreement with AstraZeneca for conducting lung cancer screening, using AI in 20 government hospitals.
(With PTI inputs)