Arunachal is facing a high cancer burden as a result of the wide disparity in diagnosis and treatment of cancers.  Lack of awareness, socioeconomic conditions and difficulty to access facilities for cancer diagnosis and treatment is compounding the trauma and pain of the patients.
Arunachal’s Papum Pare district and Aizawl in Mizoram recorded the highest incidence of new cancer cases in the country among females and males respectively, as per a government report in August last year. The report, released by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR),  showed Papum Pare district has 219.8 per one lakh cancer cases among females.
It is incredible to note that 3232 patients have benefitted from the Chief Minister’s Free Cancer Chemotherapy Scheme so far, which was launched in 2017 to provide chemotherapy medicines up to a ceiling of Rs. 5.00 lakhs per patient per annum to all APST cancer patients and regular state government employees and their dependents. 
The Arunachal government has also decided to renew the MoU with Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai for the CM’s Free Cancer Chemotherapy Scheme for another term of three years.  This would bring much succour to patients who head to Mumbai to avail cancer treatment.
As affordability of cancer care remains a major challenge in the North East, more so in Arunachal, the government must give more focus on addressing this issue.  
The findings by the ICMR is extremely concerning, but  such cancer data is crucial for policy-making decisions regarding cancer prevention, treatment and management at the government level. Armed with this statistics, the government can also reach to people and raise cancer awareness and spark lifestyle and behavioural changes.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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