Mumbai, September 30 (IANS) approved a comprehensive cancer treatment policy to ensure quality treatment for cancer patients in the state on Tuesday, headed by Maharashtra Cabinet, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
For the scheme, Maharashtra Cancer Care, Research and Education Foundation (Mahakaare Foundation) will be established, and through this, special treatment related to cancer will be provided in 18 hospitals across the state. This is expected to increase the number of day care centers related to cancer in the state.
According to this policy, cancer hospitals have been structured in three levels: L-1, L-2 and L-3 (LI, L2 and L3). These centers will provide radiotherapy, chemotherapy, post-graduate and super-specialty education, all types of cancer, surgery, physiotherapy, psychological support and treatment, research, subscriber care, availability of drug facilities and availability of awareness activities. The Mahaacare Foundation will provide manpower, money and guidance to these L-2, L-3 centers as per requirement.
In addition, a command and control center will be set up for coordination between all these centers. An expert Executive Board will be appointed for day to day management of this foundation. Foundation will be able to take the cooperation of NGOs in subcutaneous care activities for the treatment of cancer. With the development of new treatment methods for cancer, proper and cost -effective health programs including cancer will be designed locally. Activities will be applied to increase awareness about health services and lifestyle changes to prevent diseases.
The Foundation will work to facilitate information exchange between health care centers in the country and the state. The initial fund of Rs 100 crore will be made available to the Mahekre Foundation as a share capital. Apart from this, it was given to the Maharakhare Foundation to pay 20 percent fees received by cancer hospitals under Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana in Tuesday’s meeting.
In addition, the Foundation will raise funds through clinical trials. In addition, the foundation will be able to raise funds through international organizations as well as donations, grants and corporate social responsibility (CSR) as per requirement. This will enable the foundation to raise funds for other projects under the Department of Medical Education and Pharmaceuticals besides cancer.
The purchase of equipment, manpower and management for L-3 level centers will be done through the MAHACARE Foundation as per the Public Private Participation (PPP) policy. Whereas, the recruitment of posts in government medical colleges at L -2 level will be recruited by the Department of Medical Education and the Public Health Department of the government. In this regard, the approval of the high-level committee has been relaxed.
According to the release of the government, a policy was required for the treatment of cancer, especially when the cancer incident has been increasing recently, and the problem is likely to deteriorate in the coming days.
“The 2025 report of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Center for Data Data (NCDIR) shows an 11 percent increase in the number of cancer patients in the state compared to 2020. In view of the seriousness of cancer in the country, about 100 cancer patients in the country have been announced to work for cancer. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have directed to take necessary measures.
,
SJ/UK