38 dead, 64 new cancer patients detected daily: Dullas

The health sector in the country is now facing a threat of spreading non-communicable diseases and according to the latest records, 64 cancer patients are being detected and 38 patients lose their lives due to cancer every day, Power Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said.

He indicated the vision of 'Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour' of the President and while giving priority to localism, a trend has been created to manufacture medicines against cancer.

While drawing the attention of the President, special attention was also drawn to implement a mechanism for early detection of cancers, he said.

Also said that a special proposal in this regard was extended to cabinet ministers.

A total number of 30,000 cancer patients seeking treatment within a year and only 1,600 patients receive treatment.

People in this country are less likely to go abroad for cancer tests and treatment. The Government spends Rs.45,000 on a single cancer patient for importing radioactive drugs from India. If the said drug is manufactured locally, it would cost only Rs. 14,000 per patient. 

Most of the main radioactive drugs are imported from India.

Therefore the Government has decided to establish a cyclotron base radioactive drugs centre in the country to minimise the cost and to protect the effectiveness that occurs while importing them. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)