Frightening figures have emerged about cancer patients in Himachal Pradesh. There are more than 32 thousand cancer patients in Himachal Pradesh. In terms of population, one out of every 225 people is suffering from cancer. Treatment facilities for cancer patients are available in six hospitals of Himachal Pradesh. The Health Minister has shared the data of cancer patients in the Himachal Assembly. In a written reply to the question of Indora MLA Malendra Rajan, the state’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Colonel Dhaniram Shandil said that 32903 cancer patients are registered in Himachal Pradesh.
How many patients in which hospital?
The Health Minister also informed that treatment facilities for cancer patients are available in Shimla, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur, Chamba and Hamirpur districts. The highest number of cancer patients registered is 19135 in Tanda Medical College, Kangra. The number of cancer patients in IGMC, Shimla is 11343, in Nahan Medical College, Sirmaur it is 1471, in Hamirpur Medical College it is 535, in Nerchowk Medical College, Mandi it is 424 and in Chamba Medical College it is one.
One in every 225 people has cancer
According to the report of the technical group of the National Commission, the population of Himachal Pradesh is estimated to be 7,518,000 i.e. 75.18 lakhs by 1 July 2024. According to this, one out of every 225 persons is suffering from cancer.
3000 patients coming to IGMC every year
Dr. Manish Gupta, Chairman, Radiology Department, IGMC Shimla, says that in his hospital alone, 2500 to 3000 new cancer patients are coming for treatment every year.
What are the experts saying as the reason?
Agriculture and horticulture expert Dr. SP Bhardwaj says that one of the reasons for the increasing cases of cancer is the increasing use of chemicals in vegetable and fruit production. A research by Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Horticulture and Forestry University Nauni (Solan) shows that chemicals are being used heavily in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables in the state. The amount of pesticide-fungicide residue in 3 to 4 percent fruit and vegetable samples is more than the prescribed limit. The use of chemicals in Himachal is 1 percent more than the national average.
IGMC and Himachal University are doing research
IGMC and Himachal Pradesh University are jointly conducting a research on the increasing cases of cancer. This research has revealed that a large portion of the pesticides used in the fields is going into the water source, which is increasing the cases of cancer. The results of the research will be out in the next 6 to 8 months.
Cancer Care Center of Excellence is being built in Hamirpur
A Cancer Care Centre of Excellence is being prepared in Hamirpur district, where a special department of nuclear medicine will be established, in which a large capacity nuclear lab and cyclotron will also be made available. For this, the state government has made a provision of Rs 300 crore in the budget.
Cancer patients are getting 42 medicines free of cost
Cancer patients are getting free treatment in Himachal. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while presiding over the meeting of the State Advisory Board on Cancer and Palliative Care Program in Shimla last month, had announced free treatment and medicines for cancer. He said that the state government will provide 42 medicines free of cost for the treatment of cancer. This includes trastuzumab vaccine, which costs around Rs 40 thousand. These medicines are being made available in government hospitals.
Himachal ranks second in the country: Chief Minister
According to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the highest number of cancer cases have been reported in the north-eastern states of the country. Himachal Pradesh ranks second in the country in terms of cancer cases in terms of population ratio. In view of this, a decision has been taken to provide relief to cancer patients. He was presiding over the first meeting of the State Advisory Board on Cancer and Palliative Care Program in Shimla. 42 medicines for cancer treatment will be available free of cost in government hospitals. These have been included in the state’s essential medicine list.
