Minister orders drugs supply to Cancer Research Centre

Kancheepuram, July 25 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Health Minister K K S S R Ramachandran today ordered supply of vital Chemotheraphy drugs for second line treatment for advanced cancer patients at Government Aringar Anna Medical Cancer Research Centre and Hospital here.

Mr Ramchandran visited the hospital following complaints of drug shortage, thin attendance of doctors and lack of other peripheral services.

The doctors informed the Minister the indent for supply of Chemotheraphy drugs for providing second line treatment could not be made due to insufficient budget allocation.

In advanced cases six cycles of doses were needed for an average of 50 patient per year, which would cost Rs 1.2 lakh per patient and the survival rate of such patient was also minimal, Doctors told the minister.

Not satisfied with the doctors explanation, the minister said irrespective of the survival rate it was the duty of the government to treat patients.

When pointed out that the government was not supplying drugs for treating kidney failure free of cost, the minister directed the Director of Hospital Balu David to send an official request to get administrative sanction for special allocation of funds for the drugs over the normal budget allocation for the hospital expenditure.

Finding discrepancies in the attendence register and low attendence of doctors, the minister sought an explanation from the hospital authorities.

The hospital authorities placed slew of demands to the minister, which included equipment and sufficient manpower.

The Union Health Ministry has sanctioned Rs 50 crore for upgradation of the Regional Cancer centre into a Centre of Excellence in May 2006.

UNI