Daycare centre for cancer patients begins at District Civil Hospital

Aiming at providing round-the-clock palliative care and day-care chemotherapy facilities to cancer patients, the Health Department has set up a six-bedded daycare centre at the District Civil Hospital. The centre has been set up to reduce the hardship being faced by the cancer patients and their families, who earlier had to travel to higher government institutions or private hospitals for treatment at high rates.

So far, the patients requiring chemotherapy or palliative care were referred to tertiary care centres outside the district either in Ambala, Chandigarh, Rohtak or other districts, which not only caused physical and emotional stress to the patients and their family members but also resulted in additional financial burden, time consumption, and inconvenience. The newly established centre is expected to bring significant relief by offering essential cancer care services at the district level.

“It is our constant effort to ensure that all kinds of health-related facilities are available at government-run hospitals. This centre is part of those efforts. On the growing demand of cancer patients, the state government has started a daycare centre on the third floor of the Civil Hospital. We have three doctors trained in palliative care, who received specialised training from the AIIMS cancer care centre, Jhajjar. Out of them, two doctors have been deployed at this daycare centre, while one doctor is providing services at the Subdivisional Civil Hospital, Nilokheri,” said Dr Poonam Chaudhary, Civil Surgeon Karnal.

Dr Chaudhary further said trained staff nurses were also posted at the centre to ensure proper patient care. She maintained that more doctors and healthcare staff would be trained and deployed in the future as per the increasing requirements of the hospital and patient load.

She expressed confidence that the availability of chemotherapy and palliative care services at the district level would significantly reduce the financial and emotional burden on patients and their families. “They will now receive treatment and support close to their doorstep,” she said.

All essential palliative medicines and chemotherapy drugs are available at the centre to ensure uninterrupted treatment. The centre is also equipped with life-saving equipment to handle patient needs effectively, Dr Chaudhary added.

Highlighting the seriousness of the cancer burden in the district, Dr Anu Sharma, Deputy Civil Surgeon and Nodal Officer of the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD), said that the number of cancer cases was rising. As per the data, from January 2025 till now, around 870 cancer patients had already been reported across various categories.

She said that among males, oral and lung cancers were the most common, while women were largely affected by breast and cervical cancer. Other cancers reported in the district include stomach cancer, brain tumours, urinary bladder cancer, kidney cancer, uterine and ovarian cancers, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, blood cancer, and skin cancer.

She said in the coming days, the centre would also be equipped with a biosafety cabinet, which will help protect cancer patients with weak immunity from infections during chemotherapy administration, further strengthening cancer care services in the district.