Every 225th person in Himachal has cancer, 32,903 patients in the state

Shimla, 07 September: There are more than 32 thousand cancer patients in Himachal Pradesh. In terms of population, one person out of 225 people is suffering from cancer. Treatment facilities for cancer patients are available in six districts of the state. Himachal Pradesh Health Minister Colonel Dhaniram Shandil has shared the data of cancer patients in the monsoon session of the Assembly. In a written reply to the question of Indora MLA Malender Rajan, the Health and Family Welfare Minister said that 32903 cancer patients are registered in the state. Treatment facilities for cancer patients are available in Shimla, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur, Chamba and Hamirpur districts.

He said that Tanda Medical College in Kangra has the highest number of cancer patients at 19,135. The number of cancer patients in IGMC Shimla is 11,343, Nahan Medical College in Sirmaur has 1,471, Hamirpur Medical College has 535, Nerchowk Medical College in Mandi has 424 and Chamba Medical College has one. According to the report of the technical group by the National Commission, the population of Himachal Pradesh is estimated to be 7,518,000 i.e. 75.18 lakhs by July 1, 2024. According to this, one person out of 225 persons is suffering from cancer.

Dr. Manish Gupta, Chairman of the Radiology Department of IGMC Shimla, says that every year 2500 to 3000 new cancer patients are coming to his hospital alone for treatment.

Cancer is increasing due to the use of chemicals in vegetables
Agriculture and horticulture expert Dr. SP Bhardwaj says that one of the reasons for increasing cases of cancer is the increasing use of chemicals in vegetable and fruit production. A research by Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Horticulture and Forestry University Nauni (Solan) shows that chemicals are being used heavily in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables in the state. The amount of pesticide-fungicide residue in 3 to 4 percent of fruit and vegetable samples is more than the prescribed limit. The use of chemicals in Himachal is 1 percent more than the national average.

IGMC and Himachal Pradesh University are jointly conducting a research on the increasing cases of cancer. This research has revealed that how much of the pesticides used in the fields is going into the water source, which is increasing the cases of cancer. The results of the research will be out in the next 6 to 8 months. Let us tell you that cancer patients are getting free treatment in Himachal. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while chairing the meeting of the State Advisory Board on Cancer and Palliative Care Program in Shimla last month, had announced to provide free treatment and medicines for cancer disease. He said that the state government will provide 42 medicines free of cost for the treatment of cancer. This also includes the Trastuzumab vaccine, which costs around Rs 40,000. These medicines are being made available in government hospitals.

According to Chief Minister Sukhu, the highest number of cancer cases have been reported in the north-eastern states of the country. Himachal Pradesh ranks second in the country in terms of cancer cases in proportion to the population. In view of this, a decision has been taken to provide relief to cancer patients.