April 17, 2015
Treatment for cancer to be free of cost in WB Govt hospitals
The West Bengal Government has taken a historic step to make treatment for cancer free for all in Government hospitals, thanks to the initiative of Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee.
The service by the State Health Department will be rendered to one and all. The service includes free medicine, radiotherapy and chemotherapy and free beds in all Government hospitals.
More than three lakh cancer patients in the State will be benefited by this decision. The cost for the treatment of cancer is huge and may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and may go up to Rs 3.5 lakh. The cost for treatment of blood cancer is around Rs five lakh.
Incidentally, the process of giving chemotherapy free of charge has already started in some Government hospitals in North Bengal.
Nine Linear Accelerators worth Rs 25 lakh each, machines which are of utmost importance to detect the extent of cancerous cells in the body, will bought and distributed among NRS, RG Kar, SSKM, Bardhaman Medical College and Uttarbanga Medical College Hospitals.
