Sirsa MP Selja raises cancer concerns, finds reply by Haryana DGHS 'vague'

On Monday, January 13, 2025, nearly two months after Sirsa MP Kumari Selja’s letter, the Director General Health Services, Haryana, responded to her concerns regarding the rising number of cancer cases in the state and the lack of adequate treatment facilities.

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In her letter, dated November 20, 2024, Selja urged the Haryana Government to set up cancer treatment centres in districts like Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kaithal and Ambala, especially in the Ghaggar river belt, where cancer cases are increasing rapidly. She highlighted the urgent need for cancer care in these areas, pointing out that patients were forced to travel long distances to other states like Delhi and Rajasthan for treatment, which resulted in delays and even loss of lives.

No new info, just old data

Sirsa MP Kumari Selja has criticised the Director General Health Service's response to her letter, dated November 20, 2024, wherein she urged the Haryana Government to set up cancer treatment centres in Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kaithal and Ambala, especially in the Ghaggar river belt

She said the reply failed to address her specific demand for new cancer treatment centres in the Ghaggar belt and only presented old data that everyone in the state was already aware of

In her letter, Selja also shared alarming statistics, stating that around 3,000 new cancer cases were reported every month in Haryana, with nearly 1,500 people dying each month due to delayed or inaccessible treatment. She requested the government to establish cancer care facilities in all district hospitals to ensure timely, affordable care for patients, particularly those from economically weaker backgrounds.

In its response, Dr Kuldeep Singh, DG Health Services, outlined several ongoing initiatives under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). These include screening over 62 lakh individuals for common cancers such as oral, breast and cervical cancers by December 2024. Dr Kuldeep also mentioned the availability of advanced diagnostic tools like mammography and colposcopy in districts such as Ambala, Gurugram, Sirsa and Sonepat. Additionally, diagnostic services like PAP smears and biopsies are accessible in various district hospitals.

Dr Singh also highlighted the Atal Cancer Care Centre (ACCC) in Ambala Cantonment, which provides modern treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and modular surgeries. Comprehensive cancer care services are available in hospitals across Hisar, Panchkula, Faridabad and Yamunanagar, while regional centres in Rohtak, Hisar, Karnal and Nuh, along with the National Cancer Institute in Jhajjar, offer specialised cancer treatment.

Selja criticised the DG’s response. She said the reply failed to address her specific demand for new cancer treatment centres in the Ghaggar belt and only presented old data that everyone in the state was already aware of. She stated that this response lacked any clear plans or new initiatives to improve cancer care in these critical areas.