Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Published : September 20, 2014 12:08 PM IST
Highlighting the need for cancer awareness in India, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan announced that here on National Cancer Awareness Day will be observed across the nation on November 7 every year.
The Minister has declared the Regional Cancer Centre to have upgraded into the State Cancer Institute. Vardhan praised the Suhurtham scheme proposed by the government of Kerala, which makes cancer treatment free in district and medical college hospitals. 'I agree that this is a noble idea and I will try my best to back it for adoption all over the country under the 13th Plan. In the meantime, I will consider including it under the universal health insurance component of the proposed Universal Health Assurance Programme,' he said.
He also highlighted statistics reported in an official release: Two-thirds of cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, reducing patients' chances of survival. There were 2.9 million cases of cancer in the country with 1.1 million new cases being reported annually.
'It is high time we went into combative mode against this disease,' he said.
With inputs from PTI
Image source: Getty images
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