Jharkhand to Provide Cancer Screening and Treatment in All District Sadar Hospitals

The news

Jharkhand's Health Department will equip all district sadar hospitals with early cancer screening and modern treatment facilities, Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari announced on November 11. The initiative, guided by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, aims to provide affordable, quality healthcare at the district level, particularly for poor and middle-class families. Dr Ansari, a doctor himself, said the priority is to ensure that no patient's treatment stops due to lack of money.

The primary objective is to enable early detection and treatment of cancer at the district level, saving patients from having to travel to larger cities. Suspected patients will be linked to specialist hospitals and treatment will begin immediately based on test reports. The government is strengthening the screening mechanism at the district level, with CT scan and PET-scan machines to be made available in all sadar hospitals. Dr Ansari has also initiated the preparation of a standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure the effective implementation of reduced cancer drug prices in the state, and the issuing of necessary directions to concerned officials, hospitals, drug companies and vendors.

Which national programme covers cancer screening?

The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) was launched in 2010. It provides for population-level screening of common cancers, including oral, breast and cervical cancer, at primary and community health centres. The programme was later brought under the National Health Mission's umbrella for non-communicable disease control. Jharkhand's district-level cancer screening plan aligns with this centrally sponsored framework.

Why is district-level cancer care needed in Jharkhand?

Cancer treatment is expensive, often forcing families in Jharkhand to sell property and assets. Patients from rural areas have to travel to Ranchi or other states for diagnosis and treatment, incurring high costs. The state government aims to address this by strengthening district-level healthcare infrastructure. Dr Ansari had earlier raised the issue of high cancer drug prices with the Union Health Minister during a video conference, highlighting the financial burden on poor patients.

What will the new facilities achieve?

Equipping sadar hospitals with CT and PET-scan machines will enable early detection, which is critical for cancer survival. This reduces the burden on tertiary care hospitals in cities and saves patients time and money. The SOP being prepared for cancer drug price reduction aims to ensure that central government benefits reach the state effectively. The government's goal is that no poor patient should have to travel only to Ranchi or outside the state for tests.