Hyderabad, April 7: In a major boost to cancer treatment infrastructure, Telangana Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha on Tuesday inaugurated state-of-the-art Linear Accelerator (LINAC) services at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), enabling precision radiation therapy for cancer patients.
The minister said the introduction of advanced LINAC technology marks a significant step in strengthening cancer care across Telangana. With cutting-edge systems like TrueBeam, doctors can now deliver highly targeted radiation to tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues, improving treatment outcomes and reducing recovery time
Highlighting the growing cancer burden, Narasimha noted that Telangana records around 55,000 to 60,000 new cancer cases annually, calling the trend a serious public health concern. He stressed that early detection remains key to complete cure and said the government is actively promoting awareness and screening programs.
As part of decentralizing cancer care, the state is expanding services to rural and remote regions. Day-care cancer centers are being established in all district headquarters, while chemotherapy services have already been introduced in far-flung areas like Mulugu and Adilabad.
The government is also focusing on preventive healthcare. Around 4.6 million women from self-help groups are undergoing health screenings to enable early diagnosis. A dedicated women’s cancer screening camp was launched at NIMS on Tuesday.
In a significant preventive step, the Telangana government is rolling out a statewide HPV vaccination program. Free vaccines are being administered to girls aged 14 to 15 to prevent cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women.
The minister further announced that cancer will now be treated as a notifiable disease in the state. This move will ensure systematic reporting of every case, helping build a robust cancer registry for better policy planning and resource allocation.
To ensure equitable healthcare access, the government is strengthening public hospitals to provide advanced cancer treatment to economically weaker sections. Palliative care services are also being expanded across government healthcare facilities.
Senior officials, including NIMS Director Beerappa and MNJ Cancer Hospital Director Sadashivudu, along with leading oncologists and health department representatives, attended the event.
Calling for a collective effort, the minister emphasized that the fight against cancer requires active participation from society, healthcare professionals, and the government alike.
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