GUWAHATI: Assam has recorded the highest cancer survival rate in the country at 62%, significantly higher than the national average of 40%, Health Minister Ashok Singhal said on Tuesday, July 7, attributing the achievement to the state's decentralised cancer care network and extensive early cancer screening programme.
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Speaking during the Budget Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Singhal said Assam has planned 17 cancer hospitals under the L1, L2 and L3 model, with 12 already operational across the state. The operational network comprises the Level-1 State Cancer Institute in Guwahati, Level-2 Comprehensive Cancer Care Centres in Dibrugarh, Barpeta, Silchar and Diphu, and Level-3 Diagnostic and Day Care Centres located in Lakhimpur, Kokrajhar, Jorhat, Darrang, Golaghat and Tinsukia.
He also announced that Assam is set to become the first state in India to introduce proton therapy for cancer patients within the next few weeks.
The minister said the state aims to screen 1.24 crore people for cancer. So far, around 47 lakh people have been screened, leading to the early detection of over 900 cancer patients, allowing treatment to begin at earlier stages and improving survival rates.
According to Singhal, the Assam Cancer Care Network has, till May, registered 2.26 lakh new cases, including 71,517 new cancer patients, while providing over 5.85 lakh OPD consultations, 1.56 lakh chemotherapy sessions, 17,408 radiation treatments, and 9,563 major surgeries. He added that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recommended the Assam model for adoption by other states.