Srinagar, Mar 24: The Health and Medical Education Department has informed the J&K government about several initiatives to enhance oncology services in district hospitals, ensuring specialist availability and modern equipment for early cancer detection and treatment.
The information was provided in the Legislative Assembly in response to a starred question raised by MLA Arjun Singh Raju on steps taken to ensure the availability of cancer diagnosis facilities in each district hospital across J&K.
The house was informed that the government has undertaken several initiatives to enhance oncology services in district hospitals, focusing on the availability of specialists and modern equipment to facilitate early detection and treatment of cancer.
The reply said all the district hospitals have introduced a dedicated cancer ward equipped with chemotherapy facilities.
“This development aims to alleviate burden on patients, particularly those from remote areas who previously had to travel to urban centers for treatment. The wards are managed by trained physicians, paramedical staff having specializations in medical oncology,” it said.
Capacity building and expansion of medical education and training of various staff from district hospitals, including Medical Officers, staff Nurses, and technicians, are being trained from institutions like SKIMS which offer specialized medical education and training, contributing to the development of skilled healthcare professionals in the region.
The Government has announced plans to introduce Chemotherapy units in every district hospital across J&K. These units are designed to provide a range of Chemotherapy treatments tailored to meet the diverse needs of cancer patients, thereby improving early detection and better access to treatment.
In reply to another unstarred question on Ayush drugs containing high metal content and checks to ascertain presence of said metal content the government said Ayush Drugs Supplied to Government Institutions in J&K are subjected to quality testing, including heavy metals by JKMSCL through their empanelled NABL-accredited laboratories.
It said the supplies are quarantined and are not distributed to the end-user departments until a standard quality report, as per the recommended parameters, including heavy metals test wherever applicable, is received from JKMSCL empanelled laboratories.
In response to another question on steps being taken to ensure safety and standardization of these medicines to prevent potential health risks to public the department said in order to check the safety parameters and standards of quality assurance for Ayush drugs, every batch of received supplies is being tested at NABL-accredited laboratories empanelled by the JKMSCL to ensure compliance with all prescribed quality parameters.
