Tripura: Day-care camps for cancer patients in all district hospitals from January 14

Agartala: In an effort to provide cancer patients with more accessible healthcare benefits, the Tripura Health Department has approved setting up "Day-Care Camps" in all district hospitals and Melaghar sub-divisional hospitals across the state. The camps are scheduled to begin on January 14.

A memorandum issued by the Deputy Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department, Tripura on December 22, last year, stated that the healthcare services at the daycare camps will greatly benefit cancer patients by easing their access to such services at their home districts, without having to attend the tertiary cancer-care centre (ABV-RCC) in Agartala all the time.

Services like chemotherapy, routine and special investigations like endoscopy, USG, etc., along with feasible surgical procedures, will be available at the camps on 2nd Saturdays in Bishalgarh Sub-Divisional Hospital, District Hospital at Santirbazar and Khowai District Hospital, while on 4th Saturdays, they will be organized in District Hospital at Kulai, District Hospital at Dharmanagar and Unakoti District Hospital from 10 am- 4 pm.

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The proposal to set up daycare camps in the districts was submitted by the state government in consideration of the distance that cancer patients travel to receive proper treatment at the tertiary cancer-care centre in Agartala.

“One Medical Officer (Radiation Oncologist) along with two nurses and one GDA from the ABV-RCC will be deputed by the Medical Superintendent, ABV- RCC, on a rotation basis for such camps. The logistical requirements for chemotherapy sessions will be worked out in advance and provided by the ABV- RCC in prior discussions with the Medical Superintendent of the concerned District Hospital.

Requirements of general medicines and other infrastructural support will be catered to by the Medical Superintendent concerned. District Hospital in consultation with the Medical Superintendent, ABV-RCC, besides deputing two General Duty Medical Officers and three nurses for the camp,” the memorandum reads.

Funds for organising the camps in the district hospitals will be provided by the NPPC (National Programme for Palliative Care) and NPCDCS fund can provide mobility support. Related expenditures will be met from FMR 9 under NPPC placed to District Hospitals and mobility support from NCD mobility fund.

The list of patients of the particular district (where the camp is organized) attending the ABV-RCC will be provided by the ABV-RCC to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the district at least two weeks prior to the camp.

“To undertake cancer screening procedures, one Dental Surgeon, one ENT Specialist, one Gynecologist and one Surgeon will be posted from the concerned district, or if not available in the district, from the Directorate of Health Services or from the ABV-RCC, depending on availability,” it added.

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