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Cancer cases increase in Meghalaya, ICMR data says 178 cases per 1 lakh population

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Shillong, Feb 5: Cancer cases are rising at an alarming rate in the state of Meghalaya.

According to the health minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) data revealed that the state has as many as 176 cancer cases per one lakh population.

“Whereas in East Khasi Hills, we have recorded 227 cases per one lakh population. Therefore, we are very much ahead of the national average for cancer treatment which is about 100 cases per one lakh population,” Lyngdoh told reporters on Wednesday.

She added, “The government is committed to ensure that we combat this disease alongside attending to other diseases also. The non-communicable diseases today are becoming a threat besides hypertension, heath, kidney disorders and liver disorders.”

Asked, the minister said that the Shillong civil hospital has a total of 8,382 outdoor cancer patients in 2024 alone.

“Of these, a total of 1649 new entries and in radiotherapy out of this entire total 456 patients required radiotherapy,” she said while informing that the government has now upgraded the cancer wing of the Shillong civil hospital from 50 beds to 90 beds and is preparing to increase it to 200 beds.

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Stating that the government is aware on the technical issues and availability of specialised manpower, Lyngdoh said, “We are dealing with this and we are also sending doctors to prepare themselves and get the correct training so that they can return to the state and address the shortfall that we have in the system.”

Informing the government’s decision to collaborate with the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) for cancer treatment, the minister said, “We are also concerned and talking to NEIGRIHMS. We have committees already set up. We are sharing information with NEIGRIHMS. We are constantly updating ourselves with sending patients from low-income groups to nearer and closer facilities like NEIGRIHMS. We have state-of-the-art operating facilities in NEIGRIHMS. They can actually do specialised cancer surgeries with departmental specific requirements.”

“One message that has to go out to the public – you don’t need to go too far. You can take the treatment in your own state. At best, we are in close touch with institutions like the GMC, the Barwa Cancer Institute and the North East Cancer Institute, which are still within reach of the common man from a low-income group. Consult your cancer situation with your physician and try your best to have faith in your own system instead of reaching out to very far-flung places where your cost for cancer treatment increases three-four times,” she added.

Lyngdoh also informed that the government is increasing its cost expenditures on advertisements for creating awareness among the people on cancer diseases.

“We are involving church forums, community forums, health organizations across the board, which is why today you will see when somebody is told that they are suffering from cancers that immediate deep fear is no longer there as they know that the state and the nation is capable of addressing cancer treatment. Other Asian countries also come to India for cancer treatment. We have seen the numbers across the board.”

Also Read: Meghalaya to overhaul healthcare and medical education

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