Meghalaya has more than 80,000 cancer patients but the State has no specialised cancer treatment centre.
An affidavit filed on behalf of the State government by a Joint Secretary, Health Department before the division bench of Meghalaya High Court today said that the total number of patients suffering from cancer in the State may be above 80,000 and the cancer wing of the Shillong Civil Hospital is equipped to admit only a few persons and the out-patients’ facilities a few more.
The affidavit also stated that, since cancer patients some from the neighbouring States also come to Shillong, there is a crying need for augmentation of the number of beds catering to cancer patients and even the out-patients’ department of the hospital.
The affidavit also said that the cancer wing at the Shillong Civil Hospital has started to function and has 34 beds in all, 22 of them for males and 12 for females.
Though the affidavit says that some cancer patients are accommodated in other wards also, several patients are forced to take admission in private wards. It is evident again from the affidavit filed by the State that there is one room No.25 which is used as a cancer treatment centre and also doubles up as the out-patients’ department.
“In such a scenario, it is absolutely imperative that the cancer treatment in the State is augmented and a dedicated hospital for such a purpose is set up. It is necessary, in public interest, to have a specialised cancer treatment centre and the State should seek appropriate funds from the Union for such purpose after citing high incidence of the affliction due to the lifestyle of the residents of the State,” the High Court said.
Meanwhile, the division bench which comprises Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Walura Diengdoh also directed the State government to file a further affidavit to indicate the measures adopted to tackle the large number of patients immediately even as the steps to augment facilities may be taken up at a later date. The next hearing will be held on February 21.
