Panaji: Health minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday said a daycare chemotherapy centre will be made available at both district hospitals from June. The minister, who was visiting the North Goa District Hospital a day after it faced a four-hour power outage, told reporters that the administration has been given a deadline of June 11 to set up the facilities.At present, the only chemotherapy facility available in a govt set-up is at the GMC, which has a full-fledged oncology department.A health official said having chemotherapy centres at district hospitals would reduce the patient load at the GMC and provide relief to patients in the furthest corners of the state. “Presently, a patient from Canacona seeking treatment at a govt hospital must travel all the way to Bambolim. This also means that he/she has to be prepared to keep a whole day free,” said the health official.N Mandrekar from Savordem, whose college-going brother was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, said that though treatment is free at the GMC, a chemo centre in Margao would be a huge relief. “We can’t send our brother alone. He is always accompanied by either my parents or my sister and me. The taxi fare for each trip is Rs 2,000-2,500,” said Mandrekar.While there is no cancer data available for Goa, experts said cancer incidence is on the rise, with gastrointestinal and breast cancers topping the list.Govt has already announced that the cancer hospital at Bambolim – being built with funds from Centre – will be commissioned by the year-end. Goa govt has collaborated with Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai, to provide oncology services at the GMC.
