HC asks state govt to seek central aid to set up cancer hospital
The Meghalaya High Court, on December 14, asked the state government to seek Centre’s support to set up a dedicated hospital for cancer treatment in the state.
The bench referred to the affidavit submitted by the Joint Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare department that stated that Meghalaya has over 80,000 cancer patients.
After hearing the PIL on the matter, the division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh, in its order, said, “In such a scenario, it is absolutely imperative that the cancer treatment in the state is augmented and a dedicated hospital for such purpose is set up.”
The health department informed that the cancer wing at the Shillong Civil Hospital has started to function and has 34 beds of which, 22 are for the males and 12 for females. The department also referred to the tobacco chewing habit of the locals and said that such practices lead to high incidence of cancer.
“It is necessary, in public interest, to have a specialised cancer treatment centre and the state should seek appropriate funds from the Union for such purpose after citing high incidence of the affliction due to the life-style of the residents of the state,” the order read.
Additionally, since cancer patients also come from the neighboring states to Shillong, there is a crying need for augmentation of the number of beds catering to cancer patients and even the out-patients’ department, it said.
It further added that while some cancer patients are accommodated in other wards, several patients are forced to take admission in private wards.
The next hearing on the matter will be held on February 21, 2022.
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