Odisha To Provide Cancer Care & follow Up Services At Dist. Hospitals
20 June, Bhubaneswar
The Odisha government has decided to provide cancer care and follow up services in the district hospitals in the state.The decision was taken at a meeting after a presentation by national level medical oncologist Dr Dinesh Pendhakar along with Dr C S Tripathy on various technical and clinical aspects of the proposal.
Considering the presentation, Chief Secretary G C Pati said such facilities at district hospitals would save the patients from various types of exploitations.
He directed Health & Family Welfare department to work out a detail project report within shortest possible time for approval of the government.
The Chief Secretary has also directed to constitute an expert committee to carry forward the proposal. AIMS, Bhubaneswar and Achrya Harihar Cancer Care Center, Cuttack have been asked to take the lead in this matter.
The presentation made by the experts said cancer care can be decentralised. With appropriate training and arrangements, district hospitals can administer chemo. The doctors can also manage the post operation care and follow up for which the patient will not be required to run to specialised hospitals located at far off urban centers.
Experts also opined that since best quality medicines are available in the market, those can be procured by authorities through any mode as deemed proper for the State and people.
The programme, official sources said could be implemented through a partnership among the local district hospitals and tertiary cancer care hospitals and can be carried to people through community leaders and health workers.
Pati has advised to adopt a multi sectoral collaborative approach among government., Centers of excellence for cancer, pharmaceutical companies producing life saving medicines for cancer, medical officers, doctors placed at district hospitals and peoples representatives including the volunteers and health workers. The doctors and cancer experts can be brought together through whatsap and telemedicine systems for real time consultation and care, he said,.