Kidwai Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru to be upgraded

"The Rs 120 crore grant-in-aid has been sanctioned by the ministry of health and family welfare out of which Government of Karnataka will grant 25 per cent of the sanctioned amount under the tertiary cancer treatment scheme of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDS), for the purchase of equipment and construction activities in various departments of the oncology institute."

Most of the estimated figures of cancer patients are from the rural areas, with the affordability for radiotherapy treatment being a major challenge for such people. Kidwai is the only recognised regional cancer centre in the state. There is one other government cancer hospital, but not recognised.

As further reported by Mirror, Dr Vishal Rao, a senior oncologist and a member of the high power committee of tobacco control, says, "With an increase in the number of cancer patients every year, it has struck the state government that it is high time cancer treatment is made accessible to the common man considering that 80 per cent of cancer patients come from a poor socioeconomic class. Because of their low income, many people do not have the purchasing power and prefer not being treated at all. With the standardisation of health care, the treatment delivery will hopefully improve."

Even though the scheme covers many people who suffer cancer there is a cap of Rs 1.5 lakh, which is not enough to meet the treatment costs of cancer. Dr Rao adds that in cases of deadly cancers like leukaemia, there are constant advancements in treatment and newer drugs are available in the market though at a very high cost.

"Most of these drugs are not covered under the scheme. A bone marrow transplant that would cost up to Rs 15-20 lakh for one patient is also not covered under the scheme. The scheme just helps to cover the basic premise of the treatment but the indirect costs are very high," he said.