Punjab Newsline, Shimla, August 5-
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced here today that free of cost treatment and free medicines will be provided to cancer patients in the state. The state government will provide 42 medicines free of cost to cancer patients in government hospitals for their treatment and these medicines have been included in the state's essential medicine list. This was stated by the CM while presiding over the first meeting of the State Advisory Board on Cancer and Palliative Care Program here today.
He said that the highest number of cancer cases have been reported in the north-eastern states of the country. He said that Himachal Pradesh has come second in the country in cancer cases which is a matter of concern for the state. "In view of this, this revolutionary decision has been taken to provide relief to cancer patients. This facility will be provided in various government hospitals," stated the Chief Minister.
These free of cost medicines also include Trastuzumab vaccine used for cancer treatment, which costs about Rs 40 thousand. A breast cancer patient needs 18 such vaccines in a year for treatment. To provide this vaccine, the govt will spend about seven lakh rupees on each patient.
