Increasing number of cancer patients in the State is a matter of grave concern for everybody. It is the one disease on which entire world community has focused efforts of research and treatment but so far remains elusive. There is coordination among many countries and health organizations in the world to fight the deadly disease. So far no real breakthrough is visible and as such there is no relent in research efforts world over.
Medical authorities believe that certain types of cancers if diagnosed early may be treated and even cured. This instills some hope in mankind that there could be escape from its clutches but if diagnosed very early, which in itself is not that easy. Hence, we find the emphasis is on early diagnosis. For that purpose we need relevant medical equipment and expertise.
While responding to a PIL filed before the State High Court about non-availability of desired and necessary medical equipment in Government Medical Colleges of the State, the Court directed the Government to install PET scan machine in all Government Medical Colleges within six months and provide Oncology specialist advise for diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients in the State. Unfortunately, the State Health Department did not pay its attention to the question of providing the PET scan machines in the Government Medical Colleges of the State. This forces cancer patients to seek medical support from places outside the State, which is a very expensive and hassle-full exercise for them. Not to speak of the poor people who cannot bear all those heavy expenditures and are forced to leave the patients to their fate even for the richer class of people movement to hospitals outside the State is physically tiresome and exhausting. In all circumstances, not having the full diagnostic facilities for this particular disease within the State is a big deprivation which must be done away with in shortest possible time.
What is highly disturbing is that the Health Department is not responding with due seriousness to the instructions of the State High Court on the subject. Although three months have gone of the time given by the court for installation of PET scan and requisitioning of the specialized services of Oncologists, only three months remain. By any stretch of imagination it is not possible for the Government to complete the task of installing PET scan machines in all the Government colleges in the State even if the work begins just today. It is a lengthy and time consuming process and so many formalities have to be completed before actual work on installation can begin. Nobody expects the work to be done in next three months come what may.
There are increasing instances of administration failing to keep pace with the High Court decisions that are aimed at providing vital services and facilities to the general public. It needs to be probed thoroughly why this trend has lately appeared in administrative community. It is a very unhealthy trend and in a democracy where the three organs of the State are expected to move in unison in regard to converting the system into a friendly administration, defiance of the instructions of the court is unacceptable. Again, why has not the Health Department tried to requisition the services of reputed Oncologist and Onco-surgeons as desired by the High Court. That part of the instructions did not need elaborate infrastructural preparedness. Health Department has not even taken any step in that direction. It clearly shows total apathy on the part of the Health Department to tackle the important issue of caring for the public health, implementing the orders of the court and providing necessary equipment for latest type of treatment to be given to cancer patients. Nearly one lakh people of the State are reported to be suffering with various types of cancer today. This is an alarming number and it should invoke the human sense among the authorities in the State that they owe huge responsibility to the people of the State by helping them mitigate their suffering and deprivation. Very few patents of cancer are able to fight this dangerous disease single handedly. The Government has to come to their rescue and help and not increase their difficulties and suffering manifold.
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