Blog on Cancer Detection & Screening

In India, we get routine health issues attended to by the family doctor. When some symptoms are encountered, through examination and tests, the family doctor may suspect cancer. At that moment, the patient and family members panic and often go to the nearest private hospital and start treatment. At other times, the family doctor himself or herself may know a private hospital and ask the patient to get treated there. The problem is that an underprivileged patient is unable to afford private hospital’s charges.

Ideally such patients should get treated for cancer at the nearest ‘Regional Cancer Centre’ (RCC) or at one of the Tata Memorial hospitals. These hospitals offer world-class treatment and poor patients are treated for free or at highly subsidized costs. In the country there are 22 RCCs and 9 Tata hospitals and so, there is a good chance of securing admission in one of these. 

It is very important that underprivileged patients are made aware of these affordable cancer treatment options, so that ruinous expenditure is not incurred on treatment.

‘Ayushman Bharat’ scheme has been launched by Govt of India to help economically weaker sections of society avail healthcare needs without financial burden. The urban and rural poor (as defined in the scheme) can avail cashless hospitalization and treatment at empaneled hospitals to the extent of Rs 5 lakh per family per financial year (1st April to 31st March). 

An Ayushman card is issued to each beneficiary and this has to be presented at the empaneled hospital, while seeking treatment. To check whether one is eligible to join the scheme, access the website www.pmjay.gov.in and click on ‘Am I Eligible’ on the navigation bar or main menu at the top of the website.

All cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery are covered under Ayushman Bharat scheme. Diagnostic tests, including PET scan and CT scan, are included in the coverage. It is necessary that all urban and rural poor enlist themselves in the scheme and avail the benefits when illnesses, including cancer, strike.