Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is expanding cancer care services by launching day care chemotherapy centers and mobile cancer screening vans in six cities. The initiative aims to improve healthcare access, particularly for women in rural areas.
New Chemotherapy Centers in Six Cities
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the establishment of day care chemotherapy centers in Thane, Solapur, Ahilyanagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded, and Wardha. These centers will provide cancer treatment without requiring patients to stay overnight, reducing the burden on major hospitals.
Mobile Vans and Diagnostic Equipment for Underserved Areas
As part of the initiative, the state government will deploy eight cancer mobile vans equipped to screen and detect cancer early, particularly in remote regions. In addition, Maharashtra will introduce 102 regular ambulances, seven advanced life support ambulances, two computed tomography (CT) machines, and 80 handheld digital X-ray machines to strengthen diagnostic services.
Health Screenings for Women
A large-scale health program will also be launched to screen two crore women for blood pressure, diabetes, and haemoglobin levels. The initiative seeks to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and improve early detection rates.
The move reflects Maharashtra’s broader strategy to improve access to healthcare services, particularly for vulnerable populations. The expansion of day care chemotherapy centers and mobile diagnostic units is expected to bring cancer care closer to patients, reducing travel burdens and improving early detection rates.
Discussion about this post