Govt to start chemotherapy services in district hospitals

Srinagar, Dec 10: Eliminating the burden of long-distance travel for necessary medical treatment, all the ten district hospitals in Kashmir will start chemotherapy services for which doctors and paramedical staff have been trained, officials said on Sunday.
The Directorate of Health Services Kashmir has directed all Chief Medical Officers and Medical Superintendents of all district hospitals to make sure that chemotherapy services are made available in their respective district hospitals.
“The doctors and paramedical staff have been trained for one month at SKIMS Srinagar (Soura) for providing chemotherapy services in district hospitals,” it said.
The CMOs and Medical Superintendents have been directed to utilize the services of the trained staff and provide chemotherapy out of the approved National Health Mission funds for under the NP-NCD program at their respective centers, so that patients don’t suffer.
Spokesperson, Directorate of Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mir Mushtaq said that now the chemotherapy services are available at the doorsteps of the patients and it will enhance accessibility to critical cancer care in the valley.
He said wards have been established in district hospitals, along with the specialized training of paramedical staff such as nurses to enhance services. He urged people to take advantage of these improved healthcare services.
Mir said the initiative aims to decentralize cancer care, bringing it closer to communities and minimizing the necessity for patients to travel long distances for chemotherapy.
He said from early detection to treatment of patients, this move is expected to reduce waiting times for treatment and it will ensure patients receive comprehensive care.
The spokesperson said the facility in districts will decongest the tertiary care hospitals especially SKIMS Srinagar and GMC Srinagar that see a huge rush of such patients.
The initiative is expected to improve services in rural areas in the valley as north and south Kashmir hospitals lack such facilities for cancer patients.
According to doctors, people who have poor access to cancer care services experience higher cancer mortality rates than their urban counterparts.
They say rural-urban cancer disparities are attributed to limited oncology services in rural communities adding without these services, rural residents experience delay in treatment.
Notably, the establishment of chemotherapy services in district hospitals was proposed in 2018 in J&K Government’s first health policy draft prepared by the health department.