The Central government could not declare Cancer Institute, Adyar, as a centre of excellence as there was no such scheme with the government, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said in a reply to a question tabled in Rajya Sabha.
The request to declare the institute as a centre of excellence – an autonomous national cancer research institute – was not taken up, as it was being assisted as State Cancer Institute under the Tertiary Care for Cancer Scheme under the 12th Five Year Plan, the Minister said in reply to a question tabled by AIADMK member V. Maitreyan.
Dr. Maitreyan had also wanted to know if the Centre had provided funds for cancer treatment and care and research and development as sought by the State government.
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Mr. Nadda said the Centre had agreed to provide Rs. 120 crore as financial assistance as recommended by the State government. It had approved funds under the ‘tertiary care for cancer’ scheme under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke in 2013-14.
20 more institutes
It was proposed to establish as many as 20 State Cancer Institutes and 50 tertiary cancer care centres across the country. The scheme envisaged providing tertiary cancer care centres Rs. 45 crore and State Cancer Institutes, Rs. 120 crore.
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The Cancer Institute, which was earlier supported as a regional cancer centre, had been declared eligible to be a State Cancer Institute. The Central government had released Rs. 67.38 crore to the State government as first instalment of financial assistance, Mr. Nadda said.
A senior State health department official said the request from the institute had come even during the previous government’s regime, but was processed by the present government.
“The Central government currently runs only one programme for treatment of non-communicable diseases. Our Chief Minister wrote to the Central government seeking funds under the scheme for setting up a State Cancer Institute. Under this scheme, the State government, the non-governmental organisation and the Central government have entered into a tripartite agreement wherein the institute will treat cancer patients,” the official added.
The Central and State government would share the financial assistance for the institute on a 75:25 ratio, he said.
Jagat Prakash Nadda replies to AIADMK member Maitreyan in Rajya Sabha