Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that two State Cancer Institutes have been established in the Union Territory and an Apex Committee has been constituted to strengthen prevention, screening and treatment measures for cancer.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Mir Saifullah, Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo said the committee has been set up to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive response to the growing burden of cancer in Jammu and Kashmir. She said the Director of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, has been designated as the nodal officer for the purpose.
The minister said that with financial and technical support from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), two State Cancer Institutes have been established — one at SKIMS, Soura, and the other at Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu.
She said the institutes have been set up to provide comprehensive and specialised cancer care, including diagnosis, treatment and other oncology-related services, to meet the major cancer treatment needs of the Union Territory.
Itoo informed the House that the facilities at the two institutes are being strengthened periodically through augmentation of infrastructure, equipment, human resources and specialised treatment services, subject to approved norms and availability of resources.
The minister said the government remains committed to ensuring accessible, affordable and quality cancer care, particularly for economically weaker sections of society.
She said eligible cancer patients are being provided cashless treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme at empanelled government and private hospitals in accordance with the prescribed eligibility criteria and treatment packages.
The minister added that the scheme covers a range of diagnostic, therapeutic and hospitalisation-related services included in approved packages.
She further informed the House that poor and needy cancer patients are also being provided financial assistance under the Cancer Treatment and Management Fund for Poor (CTMFP) scheme, subject to eligibility conditions and availability of funds.
According to the minister, these measures are aimed at ensuring timely access to appropriate cancer treatment and reducing the financial burden on patients and their families.