MANDI:In a significant relief for cancer patients, the Himachal Pradesh government is set to appoint a nodal officer in Mandi to oversee initial screenings and provide free treatment. The role is likely to be assigned to Dr Puneet Malhotra for Mandi Zonal Hospital.
Dr Malhotra recently returned from a training in cancer, chemotherapy and palliative care in Faridabad and Ujjain, and has been awarded a Fellowship in Cancer and Chemotherapy.
Speaking to The News Radar, Dr Puneet Malhotra said that major relief is on the way for cancer patients at Mandi Zonal Hospital. Soon, the hospital will offer free cancer screening, early diagnosis, treatment and palliative care services.
Dr Malhotra highlighted that these services will now be available to patients free of charge, eliminating the need for expensive treatments in private hospitals or travel to Shimla or Chandigarh. He also shared details of a recent meeting with the Chief Minister and the Health Secretary, where the implementation of these services was discussed. Following this discussion, the Chief Minister ordered the immediate commencement of these services across the state.
The urgency of this initiative is underscored by the alarming rise in cancer cases in the state, which now ranks second nationally. To address the crisis, the state government has taken this historic step.
Dr Puneet noted that 42 medicines, including the costly Trastuzumab injection valued at approximately Rs 40,000, will be provided free of charge to cancer patients. This initiative marks a significant advancement in healthcare services for cancer patients in Mandi and sets a precedent for comprehensive cancer care in the state.
