Supporting Childhood Cancer Treatment in Punjab - Government of Punjab joins other Stakeholders

Childhood cancer almost never figures on the government radar. And we all realize that this is a critical component if we have to have real success in true control of childhood cancers in India. Individuals and organisations – where from the healthcare sector or the non-governmental sector can only do so much.

Over the last couple of years, Cankids has been actively engaging and lobbying with state governments – of Tamil Nadu and then Uttar Pradesh. Earlier this week they had a very fruitful meeting with the Punjab Government. I am sharing some news stories with you in this regard.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/cashless-cancer-treatment-for-all-below-18-punjab-health-minister/story-YeYJtKKcAbV584lwOqqneK.html

http://www.babushahi.com/full-news.php?id=63475&headline=Cashless-Cancer-treatment-for-children-at-18-empanelled-Punjab-hospitals

The Punjab government represented by the Punjab health minister Brahm Mohindra and his team joined the medical community – Dr Shruti Kakkar from DMC Ludhiana, Dr Joseph John from CMC Ludhiana, Dr Amita Mahajan from Apollo, New Delhi as well as Dr Scott Howard from World Child Cancer and International Society of Pediatric Oncology. The parent/patient support groups and civil society was represented by Cankids.

At a open meeting hosted at Government Medical College Patiala, several announcements were made including

• Extend cashless cancer treatment for the children at the 18 empanelled hospitals
• To provide tertiary health services to each and every child of state suffering from cancer
• commenced first of its kind ever special awareness programme for children suffering from cancer
• Under the Chief Minister Cancer Relief Fund scheme, cancer patients will be given Rs 1.5 lakh for treatment
• The health department is also imparting special training to medical officers, staff nurses and auxillary nursing midwives (ANMs) to conduct tests concerning cancers, especially among children and women in rural areas

Of course, this is but the first step. Continued action will lead to change and that remains to be seen.

Childhood cancer in India and abandonment of treatment

I have often touched upon the phenomenon of abandonment of treatment in this blog. This happens when a child either does not start treatment or does not complete treatment. If this happens, then the child is likely not to get cured of their cancer. One may ask, why would a print not get their child treated appropriately. But this is the reality. Abandonment of treatment is the culmination of many inter-related factors.

Recently a journalist Ankur Paliwal contacted me as he wanted to highlight this issue. He met others as well and has published a nice piece which tries to bring together all viewpoints and highlights very well, the social problem that abandonment of treatment is. I would urge you to read it by clicking on the link https://scroll.in/pulse/844442/children-are-dying-of-cancer-for-lack-of-money-even-those-that-get-free-medical-treatment

Confession of a Pediatric Oncologist

Confession of a Pediatric Oncologist



This a personal piece written by Dr Daniela Cristina Stefan, a paediatric oncologist based in Cape Town, South Africa. Her thoughts typifies our experiences as a treating doctor of children with cancer.

Best Childhood Cancer Blogs on the Planet

I have been blogging for many years now. I would like to do it more frequently and put better content, but then there are always competing priorities. This week I was surprised to receive this email in my inbox

Hi Childhood Cancer India Team,

My name is ____________. I'm Founder of Feedspot.

I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog Childhood Cancer India has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 75 Childhood Cancer Blogs on the web.
http://blog.feedspot.com/childhood_cancer_blogs/

I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 75 Childhood Cancer Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!

Also, you have the honor of displaying the badge on your blog.

Recognition like this was completely unexpected but also welcome. More importantly I want to thank Feedspot for compiling a list of 75 childhood cancer blogs. Such information will be enormously useful to many people

Happy International Childhood Cancer Day

Today is International Childhood Cancer Day. It is an opportunity to focus the attention of the public, the health professionals and the government on this cause. International and national efforts are underway and you can read more about them at the following links

http://www.internationalchildhoodcancerday.org/

http://www.cankidsindia.org/iccd-2017.html

Below is a very useful infographic prepared for this occasion.