Health Minister Viddala Rajani said that the government will develop Tirupati as a major center for cancer treatment in the state. He said that Tirupati will be developed as a cancer care hub so that advanced treatment methods related to cancer are available. He said that the establishment of Balaji Institute of Oncology (BIO) will be crucial in this direction. He said that this institute will be available in Tirupati soon. Minister Vidadala Rajini participated in the ‘Breast Cancer Continuum Care’ workshop jointly organized by the State Government and Roche Pharma in Tirupati.
Minister Vidada Rajini said that surgical, medical, radiation oncology and other medical services will be available through Balaji Institute of Oncology. He said that this institute will be connected to the cancer treatment centers across the state, thereby providing comprehensive and advanced treatments to cancer patients. As the number of cancer patients is increasing across the country, there is a need for a cancer care system in every state.
He said that a cancer institute will be set up in Tirupati with the aim of working as a patient centre.. to provide the latest treatment methods at affordable prices. He said that this would help people to get better medical treatment in the state instead of going elsewhere due to the expense. He said that he is also starting a foundation course next month in collaboration with ‘Palium India’ at SWIM’s Palliative Care in Tirupati.
About 200 health care professionals participated in this program attended by Minister Vidada Rajini. Issues related to breast cancer awareness among women were discussed on this occasion. Roche Pharma MD and CEO V. Simpson said that they will work with the state government to strengthen the cancer care system in AP. He said that assistance will be provided in terms of advanced treatments and training programs for doctors. Several representatives who participated in the meeting stated that the AP government has spent Rs.400 crores so far for the treatment of cancer patients. He said that this is 25 percent of the expenditure on the medical sector.
