Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Monday that the state’s cancer survival rate has reached 62 percent, surpassing the national average. This significant improvement in cancer treatment outcomes is attributed to the state’s three-tier cancer care programme, which emphasizes timely screening, early diagnosis, and prompt treatment.
According to the Chief Minister, the state government has launched a massive drive to screen 1.24 crore people for early detection of cancer, aiming to reduce mortality through timely medical intervention. Assam currently has 12 operational cancer care centres functioning under the three-tier distributed healthcare model, with a target to cover 1.24 crore people in the upcoming phase.
The state has already screened 47 lakh people for various types of cancer as part of its mass screening initiative. Additionally, more than one lakh CT scans have been conducted across the state’s cancer care facilities, and around 50,000 indoor patients have received treatment at these centres. The cancer care network has also delivered over 1.56 lakh chemotherapy sessions and more than 17,000 radiation therapy procedures.
The Assam government has been expanding cancer care infrastructure over the past few years through dedicated cancer hospitals and specialised treatment centres established in partnership with healthcare institutions. The Chief Minister assured that the government would continue strengthening early detection mechanisms and treatment facilities to ensure that cancer patients receive quality healthcare closer to their homes, while increasing screening coverage across the state.
The state’s efforts to improve cancer treatment outcomes have shown promising results, with the survival rate standing at 62 percent, substantially higher than the national average. This achievement is a testament to the effectiveness of the state’s integrated cancer care model.
