Arjun Chautala seeks raise in aid to cancer patients to Rs 1.5L, says ‘Punjab offers it’

He also questioned the government on it’s plans to curb the increasing number of cancer cases across the state. He asked the government about the hospitals that have cancer-treatment in Haryana and asked to be apprised about the money being spent on treatment.

Chautala mentioned that the injection that is administered to cancer patient costs around Rs 1.5 lakh and it is given ever 15-20 days. “Most patients are unable to purchase such injections. The same injection costs Rs 15,000 in PGIMER, Chandigarh, while it costs Rs 30,000 in cancer hospital at New Chandigarh (Mullanpur) of Punjab. The cancer patients are provided Rs 1.5 lakh as financial aid in Punjab, which enables them to take this injection-treatment for 10 times if they are getting treatment in PGI. I would request the state government to increase the financial aid for cancer patients in Haryana from Rs 3,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh,” he said.

Replying to the points raised by Chautala, in his Calling Attention Notice, health minister Arti Singh Rao said that there is a marginal increase in the estimated number of cancer cases in Haryana as well as in the country. “This increase could be due to increase in population, better diagnostic and treatment facilities, better reporting etc. However in the absence of Population Based Cancer Registries, no clear pattern of cancer cases emerges in Haryana. Further, duplication of data cannot be ruled out,” she said.

Citing reasons for cancer, the minister said, “As per Risk Factor Assessment Survey conducted in Haryana by PGI, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, tobacco consumption, alcohol consumption, air pollution, pesticides & chemicals, infections etc. are the most common risk factors for Non-Communicable Diseases including Cancers. Most 12 common cancers reported in men are of Oral Cavity, Lungs & Esophagus and in women are of Breast, Cervix, Ovary & Oral Cavity.”

“A total of 38 special cancer wards having 915 beds are available in various government health facilities. About 306 health facilities are empanelled for cancer treatment under Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). Another 389 Multispeciality private hospitals are empanelled with Haryana Govt. for treatment of various diseases. State is providing medical cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for treatment of various diseases including cancer under AB-PMJAY to eligible beneficiaries. As many as 14,967 claims worth Rs 151 crore have been raised from 2022 to 2025 in reference to cancer related services i.e. surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy,” the minister said.