Over 75% of Cancer Treatments in Rural Areas Under PMJAY: Health Minister
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Synopsis
Union Health Minister JP Nadda announced that rural areas have accessed over 75% of cancer treatments under the PMJAY initiative, facilitating more than 68 lakh cancer treatments worth over Rs 13,000 crore across the country.
Key Takeaways
- Over 75% cancer treatments in rural areas under PMJAY.
- 68 lakh treatments valued at Rs 13,000 crore.
- 76.32% beneficiaries are from rural backgrounds.
- Nationwide screening campaign for NCDs.
- Financial assistance for cancer patients below the poverty line.
New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) Rural regions across the nation have accessed over 75 percent of cancer treatments through the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), as reported by Union Health Minister JP Nadda. He disclosed this information in Parliament, highlighting that the Ayushman Bharat health insurance initiative has facilitated more than 68 lakh cancer treatments totaling over Rs 13,000 crore nationwide.
Among these, over 4.5 lakh treatments, valued at over Rs 985 crore, were dedicated to targeted cancer therapies. Approximately 76.32 percent of the beneficiaries hailed from rural backgrounds.
The minister also elaborated on the recent launch of a nationwide screening initiative aimed at managing and preventing non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, and various cancers.
This national campaign, which runs until March 31, seeks to achieve complete screening for individuals aged 30 years and older. It is being conducted at Ayushman Arogya Mandir facilities and other healthcare institutions under the NP-NCD framework.
The PMJAY scheme offers treatment for multiple cancer types, including breast, oral, and cervical cancers.
Additionally, it encompasses over 200 packages featuring more than 500 procedures in medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and palliative medicine.
Among these, 37 packages specifically pertain to targeted therapies such as chemotherapy for CA Breast, metastatic melanoma, chronic myeloid leukemia, Burkitt’s Lymphoma, and lung cancer, as noted by the minister.
Individuals diagnosed with cancer and living below the poverty line may also receive one-time financial support of up to Rs 15 lakh through the Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF).
The minister indicated that the scheme allows for the distribution of generic medications at 50 to 80 percent lower prices than branded medicines via Janaushadhi Stores and 217 AMRIT Pharmacies.
A total of 289 oncology drugs are available at half the market price.
Nadda further mentioned that the government had announced in the budget plans to establish 200 day care cancer centres at district hospitals by 2025-26.
Moreover, under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), 770 district NCD clinics, 233 cardiac care units, 372 district day care centres, and 6,410 NCD clinics at community health centres have been established.
Additionally, 19 state cancer institutes and 20 tertiary cancer care centres have been launched across the country to enhance cancer care.
Cancer treatment facilities have been approved in all 22 new AIIMS, which include diagnostic, medical, and surgical amenities.
Two notable centres providing advanced cancer treatment are the National Cancer Institute in Jhajjar, Haryana, featuring 1,460 beds, and the second campus of the Chittranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata, which has 460 beds.
Furthermore, there are 372 District Day Care Centres offering chemotherapy services throughout the nation.
