Over 30,000 registered cancer patients in Himachal

DHARAMSHALA: Health and family welfare minister Vipin Parmar on Wednesday said that though no survey has been conducted to ascertain the exact number of cancer patients in the state but 30,045 patients were registered at different health institutions of the state of which 23,929 have been given chemotherapy till October 31.

In response to a question raised by Sarkaghat legislator Inder Singh during the question hour of assembly session here, the health minister said that cancer units have been set up in Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC), Tanda, and 10 hospitals.

He said that 24,400 patients were registered at IGMC of which 18,103 were given chemotherapy.

Similarly, 7,726 patients were registered at RPGMC of which 4,420 were given chemotherapy. In the other 10 hospitals, 7,919 patients were registered and 1,406 people received chemotherapy.

Replying to a question raised by Hamirpur member of legislative assembly (MLA) Narinder Thakur, education minister Suresh Bhardwaj said that nursery classes had been started in 3,391 government primary schools, adding that classes were yet to be started in rest 7,331 primary schools.

Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur said the department of personnel and training of the state, has directed all the department boards and corporations to fill up backlog vacancies for posts reserved for other backward classes (OBC) advertised on September 9, 2016.

"Many departments have initiated the process of identifying and filling up backlog vacancies," said Thakur.

Deputy commissioners, boards and corporations, nine candidates have been provided jobs in Class 1; five in Class 2; 247 in Class 3 and 74 Class 4 categories so far, he said.

AT IGMC, 24,400 PATIENTS WERE REGISTERED OF WHICH 18,103 WERE GIVEN CHEMOTHERAPY