The Hindu Business Line : SUT offers cancer care scheme thru post offices

THE Thiruvananthapuram-based SUT Super Specialty Hospitals Ltd has entered into an agreement with the Department of Posts, for distribution of an SUT product, Life Time Cancer Care Scheme, through select post offices in Kerala.

A memorandum of understanding to this effect has been signed, Dr C. Bharath Chandran, Managing Director, SUT Hospitals, told newspersons here.

SUT Life Time Cancer Care Scheme seeks to offer quality cancer care at an affordable cost. A one-time payment of Rs 3,000 at the nearest designated post office will make the applicant eligible for advanced cancer treatment for life, cost of medicines excluded.

The scheme amounts to a "realistic proposition," which would be help thousands of people benefit by registering at a post office, Dr Bharath Chandran said. Subscription forms will be available off counter at select post offices under the Kerala circle. Duly filled-in subscription forms, along with a membership fee of Rs 3,000, will be accepted at these post offices.

SUT Hospitals Ltd, one of the oldest super-specialty hospitals in the State, is in the process of establishing an Institute of Oncology, as an advanced institute for cancer care. Dr M. Krishnan Nair, founder-Director of the Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, will be the Director of the institute.

Statistics reveal that an estimated 30,000 new cases are registered every year in the State, according to Dr Nair, who was also present at the press conference. Lack of adequate treatment facilities and the high costs associated with existing options have combined to deny appropriate and timely treatment to a majority of patients. The SUT Cancer Care Scheme would be able to address their problems adequately, he said.

Cancer control in panchayats: Meanwhile, the State Government has authorised the SUT Institute of Oncology to organise cancer control programme in Thiruvananthapuram district.

Being launched under the stewardship of Dr. Nair, the scheme will be implemented in partnership with the respective district panchayat administrations. The Office of the Minister for Local Self Government has issued an official communication (No: 17585/L3/04/LSG) to this effect.

The programme will be formally launched in Thiruvananthapuram on July 1 to coincide with the 18th anniversary celebrations of SUT Hospitals. It aims at reducing cancer morbidity and mortality in the district through a multi-pronged package that combines separate initiatives for public awareness, early detection, palliative care and treatment.

While SUT Hospitals will provide technical support, the District Panchayat and its lower-rung offices downstream the hierarchy will back up with administrative support for the programme. It involves training of lay volunteers selected from the community, two to five from each panchayat, who will spearhead the campaign for prevention, early detection and palliative care, among the larger community.

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