Cancer patients to get Rs 1 lakh for treatment

The West Bengal Health Department has decided to provide Rs 1 lakh for the treatment of cancer patients belonging to the three districts of Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and South Dinajpur and whose annual family income is less than Rs 70,000. The three districts were chosen since there are no well-equipped state-run medical colleges in these districts to treat cancer patient, except the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri in Darjeeling district. Therefore to avail the benefit under the scheme, the cancer patients have to be admitted to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital.

The financial assistance from the programme will be borne by Union government’s National Programme for Control of Cancer, Diabetes and Stroke.

The scheme is on the lines of Union Health Ministry’s discretionary fund where cancer patients belonging to only BPL section and admitted at Regional Cancer Institutes, like Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) in Kolkata, get Rs 1 lakh for treatment.

Under the new scheme, the patient has to submit an application in the prescribed proforma duly filled in by the treating doctor and countersigned by the Medical Superintendent of the hospital of the state-run hospitals where the patient is receiving the treatment, along with income certificate in original attested by the Block Development Officer, District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Officer.

“If the plan is successful then we will carry out the project in other 16 districts of the state. It requires Chief Minister’s approval,” said BR Satpati, Director, Health Services.

Cancer specialists welcomed the move, saying it would be of great help to the patients. “If the government decides to provide financial help to the patients, it’s a great step. Many families sell their jewellery and other assets for cancer treatment,” said Dr Goutam Mukhopadyay, an oncolgist.