Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced plans to establish a comprehensive cancer grid in the State integrating cancer centres, district general hospitals, and taluk hospitals to streamline cancer treatment.
The announcement was made during inauguration of the Treatment and Academic Block at Malabar Cancer Centre, funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board.
The Chief Minister highlighted the government’s multi-faceted approach to combating cancer, emphasising prevention, early detection, and cost-effective treatment.
“The zero-profit anti-cancer drugs project ensures availability of expensive cancer medicines at significantly reduced prices, bypassing intermediaries. Medicines costing as high as ₹1.25 lakh are now available at ₹11,892, a 93% discount, through special counters at Karunya pharmacies in all districts,” he said.
He also highlighted the State’s plans to introduce cervical cancer vaccinations and establish district-level cancer treatment centres with ₹2.5 crore being allocated for the initiative.
Presiding over the event, Health Minister Veena George stressed the importance of early detection, noting that recovery rates were 95% for early-stage cancer. She outlined cancer prevention as a key goal under the ‘Aardram Mission’ and called for regular screenings for individuals above 30 years of age.
Published – January 25, 2025 08:36 pm IST