Oncologists want Tamil Nadu government
to ensure morphine availability
With cancer burden in
India set to increase by 20 per cent and TN alone likely to account for 88,847
new cases, oncologists have urged the Centre to relax norms and ensure morphine
is made available to lessen the agony of cancer patients.
According to S.S. Mitra, consultant, clinical
oncology, Sussex Cancer Network, only 10 per cent of morphine is made available
in India while the rest is exported. The government should relax norms and
ensure that this cheap drug is available for oncologists to prescribe to cancer
patients. He also claimed that there is a need for more palliative care service
across the country.
Dr Somasundaram Subramanian, director,
Eurasaian Federation of Oncology, said cancer should be notified as a disease
in India to facilitate not only reporting of cases but also to compile data on
its prevalence. In Russia, cancer cases are closely monitored and patients
referred to institutions with best facilities, he added.
Prof Ramesh S. Bilimagga, organising secretary
of Indian Cancer Congress, said the prevalance of oncology cases in India is 28
lakhs. Participating in the third edition of international meeting on clinical
practice, guidelines in oncology, organised by Sri Ramachandra Medical College
and Research Institute, Dr Anitha Ramesh, professor, medical oncology of SRMC,
says the symposium also discussed various challenges faced by oncologists in
the management of cancer cases.
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