| Sharp increase in cancer patients, State Govt unmoved | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Jan 22: With cancer emerging as a major deadly disease in Jammu and Kashmir, authorities seem not interested to take any preventive measures in the state.
The SKIMS is yet to fully upgrade its infrastructure as a State Cancer Institute despite significant increase in the number of patients over the years.
Around 4800 cancer patients were reported at SKIMS Soura in the previous year. While during 2017, 4500 cancer patients were detected.
Data shows a higher incidence of the disease in males. An official said that among the male patients there was a higher rate of lung, blood, oesophagus and stomach cancers.
In case of females, the doctor said, breast cancer was at the top, followed by lung, blood, and oesophagus.
In 2015, the RCC was given the status of a State Cancer Institute (SCI).
It became entitled to receive funds to the tune of Rs 120 crore from the union health ministry and the state government at 90:10 basis.
Same year, the hospital received Rs 47.25 crore as the first tranche of Rs 120 cr - 30 per cent of which was meant for the construction of the building and 70 per cent for the equipment.
Three years later, the SCI is yet to be fully functional with the Director SKIMS.
"The Institute will have 120 beds for the departments like Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Clinical Hematology and Pain and Palliative Care services," the official said.
At present, the RCC has 80 beds but it lacks a separate operation theatre and other facilities as a result of which, the patients are operated only twice a week.
The Centre, being the only such establishment in Kashmir, witnesses a rush of patients irrespective of age and gender.
The official attributes this surge in the disease to lifestyle changes, increased smoking, environmental factors and late diagnosis.
"We have adopted a sedentary lifestyle, food and work habits have undergone a lot of change, there is higher intake of fats and lesser physical activity," he said.
Moreover, he said, people are not diagnosed at an early stage.
"They come to the institute when the cancer has rooted in their body prominently." |
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