Ramadoss calls for more research for prevention of cancer

New Delhi, Sep 20 (UNI) Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss today called for more medical research institutes in the country to take up preventive research against cancer, noting that the disease is curable and treatable.

Inaugurating the new building complex of Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology (ICPO) at Noida today, Dr Ramadoss said that cancer awareness and early detection are needed to contain the mortality caused by the deadly disease.

Calling for more budgetary support to set up research infrastructure in the 11th Five Year Plan period, he said that National Cancer Control Project requires five to six times more funds for a positive change in the cancer scenario in the country.

The Health Minister also stated that the Prime Minister has been emphasising on preventive mode of treatment against the disease.

A new department of Medical Research is being set up in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with the anticipated budgetary support of about one thousand crore rupees, Dr Ramadoss added.

Pointing out that one lakh thirty thousand women are affected by cervical cancer out of which seventy four thousand women die of the disease every year, he said there is a need to produce cancer preventive vaccine to be administered to women. ''In India, the survival rate in case of breast cancer is 60 per cent if the disease is detected at an early stage whereas it is 80 per cent in the western countries. Cirrhosis and liver damage are the major health problems encountered in the North-East,'' he said, adding the need for a combination vaccine to contain Hepatitis B and C.

Congratulating the scientists of the Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology, Dr Ramadoss said that the Institute should have a hospital attached to it to conduct research on cancer and to treat cancer patients.

Interacting with mediapersons after the inauguration, the Minister noted that the incidence of Polio has come down after May this year due to the efforts of the government. ''I am meeting the Health Ministers of eight polio-affected States, where we will discuss various issues that are responsible for the spread of the disease,'' he said, adding that the state Health Secretaries and Directors of Health Services will also attend the meeting.

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