Cancer centres to be set up in all NE states

Aizawl, Mar 16 (UNI) The Union health ministry has decided to set up Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs) in each of the Northeastern states, including Sikkim, besides providing adequate funds to the existing cancer hospitals of the region.

Health department sources said here today said that the Centre has chalked out a plan following confirming of increasing incidences of cancer cases in NE. As per the plan the first RCC will be set up in Guwahati while Rs two to three crore would be snactioned to the oncology departments in all government hospitals of the region for upgradation.

The Ministry said that total grant worth Rs 26.23 crore has been released to the NE states under various schemes of National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), including grant of Rs 8.80 crore for RCCs, Rs 16.99 crore under Oncology wing development schemes and Rs 44 lakh under District Cancer Control Programme during past three years.

Population based Cancer Registry Programme of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) shows occurrence of oesophagus, lung, mouth, nasopharynx and stomach cancer are relatively higher in Northeastern states as compared to other parts of the country.

UNI