Hospital-on-train may soon reach out to cancer patients

CANCER EXPERTS AND AN NGO WILL SOON SUBMIT A MEMO TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO BRING THE TRAIN TO RAJASTHAN

JAIPUR: Cancer experts and a nongovernment organisation ( NGO) are making efforts to bring Jeevan Rekha Express, world’s first hospital-on-train, to the state.

They will soon submit a memorandum to the state government to bring the train to Rajasthan so that cancer patients in remote areas can seek treatment.

“Cancer surgeons and Voice of Tobacco Victims (VoTV), an NGO, will submit a memorandum to the state government this week,” said Dr Pawan Singh, head and neck surgeon with government’s Sawai Man Singh hospital.

He said cancer surgeons in the train will treat patients in remote places where facilities for screening, detection and treatment are not available. He added that the state government will not have to bear any additional financial burden as the doctors offer voluntary service. This train will prove beneficial for patients in Dholpur, Phalodi, Pokaran, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Balotara and other places.

The Jeevan Rekha Express or Lifeline Express, which started 25 years ago to take medical care to the remotest parts of the country, now has seven coaches, including two coaches for cancer treatment.

Apart from cancer, surgeries are conducted for sight, hearing, clefts, burn contractures, orthopaedic impairment, epilepsy and dental problems.

Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, professor, department of head and neck surgery, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai said the train, a joint initiative of Tata Memorial Hospital, railway ministry and an NGO, Impact India, will travel the length and breadth of the country to extend cancer care even in the remotest parts. “The train goes to a state on the recommendation of the state government,” he said.