With cases on rise, South Kashmir seeks regional cancer centre

Srinagar, July 22: The people from different areas of south Kashmir have sought attention of the Union Health Ministry and UT Administration for setting up of a regional cancer center as the cases have increased especially at newly established GMC Anantnag.
Residents from different areas of south Kashmir said the patients have been suffering a lot as they are compelled to visit Srinagar hospitals for treatment of different types of cancers
A month ago, a 38-year-old female patient was diagnosed with a case of stomach cancer, presented at GMC Anantnag with severe ascites, indigestion and recurrent vomiting.
The patient had received chemotherapy at SKIMS a few years back and was subsequently advised radiotherapy for four weeks. She had received two radiotherapy sessions and didn’t attend the hospital at SKIMS Soura for the rest of the treatment.
“My husband is a labourer. We could not afford to arrange transport to SKIMS every day and it was impossible,” said the patient who lives in the outskirts of Kokernag.
Manzoor Ahmad, a resident of Anantnag said although a request for setting up of RCC has been sent to Govt. of India and locals seek funds for it to provide relief for the patients.
“South Kashmir is a huge area and there is a dire need of a separate facility for cancer patients. The Regional Cancer Centre at SKIMS remains abuzz with patients,” he said.
There is high prevalence of various cancers in South Kashmir and adjoining belts of Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar, the need of RCC is felt on daily basis at GMC Anantnag.
Dr Owvass H Dar, Consultant Radiologist at GMC Anantnag said daily patients are diagnosed in the Radio Diagnosis Department at GMC Anantnag and in various Sub-District Hospitals and Private Diagnostic Centres in the region.
“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.
As per doctors, GMC Anantnag has existing trained staff and radiation oncology department which is a positive sign which means that most important requirements of technical human resources are already in place to manage the RCC.
He 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 figures, about 750 cancer patients have been registered at GMC Anantnag in the last three 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 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,” said a doctor at GMC Anantnag .
The setting of RCC would be essential in providing specialized cancer treatment to the increasing number of cancer patients diagnosed each day at GMC Anantnag.
Principal, GMC Anantnag, Prof. Tariq Qureshi said the demand for Regional Cancer Centre for south Kashmir has been approved by Government of India but it is yet to be implemented.
“There are five approved projects that include Regional Cancer Centre, 200-bedded maternity centre, Cath Lab, MRI Centre and we are trying for positron emission tomography (PET) scan facility. Yes it may take some time for implementation,” he said.