A cancer care centre, a first-of-its-kind facility in government hospitals at the district-level, has been set up at the district headquarters hospital in the town.
The centre will function from a separate block on the hospital premises with a dedicated team to offer cancer care services to the needy.
Health Minister C. Laxma Reddy formally inaugurated the centre here on Thursday. Minister for Roads & Buildings T. Nageswara Rao, Khammam MLA P. Ajay Kumar, Collector D.S. Lokesh Kumar and others were present.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Laxma Reddy said the new facility would provide cancer care services, including screening and treatment for various types of cancer.
Similar centres would be opened in all the district headquarters hospitals in the entire State soon, he said, adding that these centres would focus on early detection of cancers for providing effective treatment.
The facility would be of immense help to the poor as it would enable them access cancer care services within the district.
Those suffering from advanced stages of cancer would be referred to MNJ cancer hospital at Red Hills in Hyderabad.
Plans are afoot to set up 40 dialysis units in government hospitals all over the State, he said, adding that four units would be established in each district for patients suffering from kidney failure.
Three intensive care units (ICUs) have already been established in each of the government hospitals in Mahabubnagar, Karimnagar and Siddipet (Medak district). The ICUs would be set up in all the district headquarters hospitals all over the State soon.
On the shortage of medical officers and nurses, he said the State government has already given its nod to fill up 2,118 posts in the Medical and Health Department.
Mr. Nageswara Rao said the government has laid special focus on strengthening infrastructure in all the government hospitals to offer quality healthcare to the rural masses.
