PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has approved the second phase of a project for treatment of poor cancer patients in the province.Under the project, around 5,353 more cancer patients would be able to receive treatment.An official handout said the second phase of the project "Treatment of poor cancer patients" for the year 2019-20 to 2021-22 was approved at a meeting of the Provincial Development Working Party (PDWP).The project was started in 2010-11 at a cost of Rs578 million. Initially, it was limited to treatment of blood cancer patients. Under the first phase, 810 patients received treatment for three years.The second phase of the project was approved by the PDWP in 2016 with the total cost of Rs599 million to cater to the treatment needs of additional 445 blood cancer patients.However, the second phase was revised and provisions were made to cover up to 4000 patients suffering from any type of cancer.Accordingly, the budget allocation was increased to Rs1945 million.Approving the second phase of the project, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said that new and effective anti-cancer medicines have been added and the scope of project extended to cover the patients currently on waiting list."About 3615 patients are currently getting free treatment and after the revision 5353 additional patients will be able to avail free treatment facilities," he added.The chief minister added that a Patient Relationship Management System has also been added under which patients would be able to contact the 'doctor on call' from their place of residency in case of emergency.He said widening the scope of the project was a landmark achievement of the government and the Health Department.Figures made available by the Health Department indicate that the five year survival rate of patients treated so far is up to 80 percent.Additionally, 12 doctors are currently being trained for FCPS in medical oncology and they will be deputed to provide free treatment in all the cities of the province at the convenience of patients.The chief minister added the cost-sharing mechanism with pharmaceutical companies had ensured the success of the project and the extension of medical oncology services at Mingora, Abbottabad and Dera Ismail Khan during the next three years was also on the cards so that patients could receive the treatment.
from The News International - National http://bit.ly/2YUIxNe
0 comments:
Post a Comment