Punjab Cancer Care: Cross-State Hospital Access Eyed

The Punjab government is actively considering a proposal to empanel hospitals located outside the state for the treatment of childhood cancer patients under its official health insurance scheme. This move aims to broaden access to specialized care for young patients. Recently, five children from Punjab were successfully treated in a Gurugram hospital in Haryana, facilitated by the existing health insurance provisions.

During a consultative workshop on childhood cancer care, stakeholders emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation among states in Northwest India. Dr. Sushil Mahi from Haryana expressed support for exploring all options to help children access treatment at centers of excellence close to their homes. Poonam Bagai highlighted that patients from states like Uttar Pradesh often utilize financial aid in neighboring Madhya Pradesh, but similar interoperability is limited in the six northern states and union territories.

There are approximately 4,400 children with cancer in the region spanning from Ladakh to Himachal Pradesh and Haryana. Bagai stressed that government financial assistance schemes should follow patients if they opt for treatment in more accessible centers in neighboring states. For instance, beneficiaries under Punjab's Mukhyamantri Rahat Kosh should be able to seek treatment in Haryana, and similarly, children from Ladakh and Himachal should be able to use their state's aid at PGI Chandigarh.

A task force is set to be established to coordinate efforts between state governments and other stakeholders. This initiative seeks to ensure that children with cancer can continue to receive the best possible treatment using their respective state government's funds, irrespective of geographical boundaries within Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.