Telangana health minister declares cancer as notifiable disease

Launches cancer registry

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

In a measure aimed at improving cancer care in the state, Telangana Health Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha on Tuesday declared cancer as a notifiable disease and launched a cancer registry. Expressing concern that about 55,000 to 60,000 new cancer cases are being reported in the state every year, he said every cancer case would be registered with the announcement of cancer as a notifiable disease.

The cancer registry would help the government in having accurate data for preparing better plans to deal with the spread of cancer, he said. Observing that the state government has expanded healhcare to treat cancer by establishing Day Care Cancer Centres in district headquarter towns, he said the government is conducting health checks for 46 lakh members of women self help groups (SHGs). He said the government would start Regional Cancer Centres and take measures to detect diseases like cancer through AI.

The minister said this while attending World Health Day celebrations and inaugurated a LINAC (Linear Accelerator) in the cancer block of the state-run Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) here, an official release said.

The health minister launched several initiatives, including a comprehensive trauma care policy to help victims of accidents and other emergencies. The health department entered into an agreement with AstraZeneca for conducting lung cancer screening, using AI in 20 government hospitals.