Srinagar, Nov 18: People hailing from different areas of south Kashmir have been voicing their concern for establishment of Regional Cancer Center (RCC) in GMC Anantnag as the cancer cases have seen an upward trend in the region.
Residents from various parts of South Kashmir expressed concern over the hardships faced by cancer patients, who are forced to travel to hospitals in Srinagar for treatment of various types of cancers.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Pulwama, stated that a representation requesting the establishment of a RCC has been submitted to the Government of India. Locals are also appealing for funds to provide much-needed relief to cancer patients.
As per patients travelling to Srinagar hospitals for treatment is not affordable for poor patients saying that the existing hospitals are already abuzz with patients.
“When patients go to SKIMS Soura, they often face delays in receiving timely treatment. They are forced to wait and get long dates for their treatment protocols, by which time many are already in the later stages of cancer,” he said.
A senior doctor at GMC Anantnag stated that there is a high prevalence of various cancers in South Kashmir, as well as in the adjoining regions of Ramban, Doda, and Kishtwar. He emphasized that the need for a cancer center is felt on a daily basis at GMC Anantnag, which is the most accessible hospital for many.
“The prevalence of common cancers is high in south Kashmir are gastric, esophageal, colonic, lung, ovarian followed by breast, gallbladder, renal cancers etc.,” he said.
The GMC Anantnag caters to over 30 lakh people from South Kashmir including Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Anantnag and adjoining areas of Ramban, Banihal, Doda and Kishtwar.
According to doctors, GMC Anantnag already has trained staff and a radiation oncology department, which is a positive indicator and essential technical human resources needed to manage a cancer centre.
The doctor said the only requirement for establishing the RCC at GMC Anantnag is building and infrastructure in the form of radiotherapy delivery equipment and other facilities.
As per the official figures, about 1600 cancer patients have been registered at GMC Anantnag in the last few years and the numbers are quite high as most of the patients travel to Srinagar.
“About 60-65 percent of these patients require radiotherapy treatment at some phase of their treatment for which they are referred to Srinagar, causing serious economic slowdown to the majority of these patients with many of the poor patients hardly bear huge costs incurred for the treatment and travelling charges,” the doctors said.
A senior official in the administration stated that the demand for a Regional Cancer Center in the region has been raised with the relevant authorities in the Government of India. “We have been actively advocating for this facility, but unfortunately, we have not received any response so far,” the official added.
The official mentioned that they have also recommended the establishment of a PET scan facility at the medical college, and the proposal has been submitted for approval to the relevant authorities.
