Cancer Day Feb 4, Govt apathy for poor patients, death without treatment

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Feb 04, 2016: Today the world marks "CANCER DAY"  a bit of reflection on this is called for, to see the situation around us. When a vendor from Chikkaballapur, suffered a relapse of tongue cancer after, doctors suggested him tongue reconstruction through a plastic surgery along with radiation therapy .

He, however, stopped the treatment. The reason: the Vajpayee Arogya BPL insurance scheme, of which he is a beneficiary , does not provide for treatment on relapse or any surgery to get back his voice. Satish is not alone. Hundreds of cancer patients in Karnataka are withdrawing from treatment and facing a slow death, not being able to afford the cost.

Even as the number of cancer cases is on the rise, the Vajpayee Arogya scheme provides only Rs 1.5 lakh for a poor patient and Yeshasvini insurance scheme for poor farmers doesn’t cover chemotherapy. Oncologists say there is a gap between technological advancement in cancer care and funds provided under government schemes. "Poor cancer patients in India end up getting only mediocre chemotherapy," a senior oncologist said.

Over 50% of cancer deaths across the world happen in Russia, India and China, according to a recent WHO research.The fact-sheet says that while India spends $641 per cancer patient, China spends $2,200 and Russia $3,780. The US spends a whopping $86,758 on each cancer patient.

 

Though the government wants to help the needy cancer patients, it lacksvision, say oncologists who see patients withdrawing treatment because of unaffordability. "For some tests, cyberknife technology needs to be used. But the gover nment insurance scheme does not cover it, and provides for only the basic treat ment," said a Dr  member of the high-powered committee on tobacco control set up by Karnataka government.

According to Dr BS Ajai Kumar, founder of HCG Cancer Care, the mortality rate is high among BPL patients. "They need the best treatment as they have to get back to work. While formulating insurance schemes, the government should consult doctors," he added.

Dr Santhosh Gowda, head of medical oncology, Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre, said, "In India, the treatment is based on affordability ... It’s sad we can’t prescribe them the best medicine as they can’t afford it. When contacted, a senior officer from health and family welfare department said the situation may will improve if the government makes budgetary allocation keeping cancer care in mind.

COSTLY TREATMENT :

HER2 is a protein that makes breast cancer cells grow and can aggravate breast cancer. "For HER2 positive patients, even after surgery and chemotherapy, we need to prescribe them an essential medicine called `Transtuzumap’. It costs Rs 60,000 per dose for Indian ver sion of the medicine where as the original US medicine costs Rs 1 lakh. The patient has to have Rs 10 lakh per year to afford this medicine, which can’t even prescribe for poor patients," says Dr Santhosh Gowda.

FREE CARE :   Retinoblastoma or childhood eye cancer appears in the form of white reflection in the centre of the eye or sometimes in the form of squint eye. The worst affected are children in the age group of 1-3 years. "We, at Narayana Netralaya, are willing to help the needy poor patients with free treatment," says Dr Bhujang Shetty, chairman of Narayana Netralaya.