Apart from expanding the ongoing initiative to screen the people for diabetes, the Centre will soon launch another programme to screen the people for different cancer cases in select districts on a pilot basis.

The government will start the programme with 30 districts and screen the people for different cancer diseases including oral, breast and cervical cancers. The government will provide required equipments for mammography and other tests to the selected health centres in these districts, director general of health services Jagdish Prasad told Pharmabiz.

Besides the screening, the government is planning to set up eight more hospitals for treating cancers in states like West Bengal, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Chattisgarh. The aim is to have at least specialised hospitals with 200 beds in 20 states. The existing financial assistance for the cancer hospital also will be raised from the current levels of Rs.6 crore to Rs.45 crore, he said.

Based on the inputs from the ongoing screening programme for diabetes, currently being held in 100 districts in the country, it will be launched in 200 more districts, Dr Prasad said, citing heavy number of cases in states like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh during the surveys.

Apart from these, a comprehensive programme is also likely to be introduced for screen people for diabetes, hypertension, heart-related problems, stroke and cancer, besides age-related ailments for senior citizens in some areas. This programme had been approved for 100 districts by the government way back in July 2010 and a total cost of Rs.1600 crore is expected for the purpose. The screening would be done through community healthcare centres, and sub-centres to cover an estimated seven crore people in the target age-group.