Governor appeals State Govt to include cancer treatment and diagnostic tests in health scheme

Hon’ble Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan on Monday appealed to the State government to include the cancer treatment and diagnostic tests related to the cancer screening in the health insurance scheme to help the needy patients, especially the women with breast cancer.

Expressing concern over the high expenditure involved in the cancer treatment and other required expensive diagnostic tests, she said that it was important to extend the health insurance scheme like the Arogyasri to save the patients from incurring huge expenses.

The Governor was speaking at the “International Breast Cancer Awareness Month” programme, organised by the Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation, at the Raj Bhavan, here.

Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan stated that she would personally write a letter to the State government requesting for the inclusion of cancer treatment and cancer diagnosis tests in the health scheme.

She emphasised on the importance of creating wider awareness on the breast cancer so as to help the early detection and effective treatment to save many precious lives.

The Governor urged the women to go for the regular check up to prevent the aggravation of any medical condition related to the breast cancer.

A cancer survivor, Ms. Radha Kantipudi, has donated Rs 60 Lakh to the Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation to facilitate the free treatment for breast cancer to the needy patients.

The Cheque for the amount was handed over by Mrs. Chandra Subba Rao, the mother of Radha Kantipudi, to the Governor.

Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan said that she was moved by the gesture of Radha Kantipudi’s family and the Rs 5 Crore matching contribution for the same by Dr. Bhaskar Rao of the KIMS Hospital for the purpose of offering free breast cancer treatment to the needy women.

The Governor lauded the relentless efforts of Dr. C. Raghu Ram, the founder of the Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation, for the promotion of awareness and free treatment initiatives for breast cancer patients.

On the occasion, Raj Bhavan was illuminated in pink to create awareness on the breast cancer.

In association with the Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation, the Raj Bhavan, Hyderabad, is being illuminated in pink in the month of October for the past three years.

Dr. C. Raghu Ram, Dr. Bhaskar Rao, ASCI former director Padmanabaiah, Mrs. Chandra Subba Rao, and others were present on the occasion, where some cancer survivors shared their poignant experiences in their fight against the cancer.