The District Hospital on Princess Road in Mysuru.
DH Photo
Mysuru: With an alarming rise in cancer cases in Karnataka, the state government is establishing Day Care Chemotherapy Centres (DCCC) in the district hospitals. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate one such facility at the District Hospital in Mysuru on May 23.
Speaking to DH, District Surgeon Dr Amarnath said that the DCCC in Mysuru District Hospital will start with 20 beds, 10 each for men and women, as the incidence of cancer cases is around 70,000 annually in Karnataka.
The initiative aims to decentralise cancer care and reduce patient burden on tertiary centres. This model aims to provide localised chemotherapy services, enhanced access, reduced travel burden, and cost-effective care, he said.
If required, the facility would be expanded. There is no need for any equipment as only a ward and a cot is needed.
The doctors from Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, will treat the patients free of cost, Dr Amarnath said. Deepti, whose father is suffering from cancer, said, this facility will be helpful to a large number of people, who need chemotherapy treatment.
“Besides, it is said that the patients will be examined and treatment suggested by experts from Kidwai, which reduces travel burden,” she said.
The DCCCs will initially focus on palliative chemotherapy and chemotherapy for solid tumours that include oral cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, lung, colon, prostate cancers. Standardised protocols have been developed by experts at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, for uniform implementation.
According to Kidwai authorities, Karnataka reported a total of 2,11,630 cancer cases, with 93,805 among males and 1,17,825 among females in 2021. Bengaluru alone has a crude incidence rate of 110.9 per 1,00,000 population. Among males, lung cancer (10.1%) is most common, while among females, breast cancer (27.9%) and cervical cancer (12%) dominate.
The increasing burden of cancer in Karnataka has necessitated decentralisation of cancer care services, especially for chemotherapy. Currently, the patients often travel long distances to tertiary care centres, with significant financial and emotional stress.
Hub & Spoke model
The project will employ a phased Hub and Spoke model for delivering chemotherapy services. It will consist of Hubs (cancer centres with specialised care) and Spokes (district hospitals) that administer follow-up chemotherapy based on treatment plans devised by oncologists from the Hubs.
In Mysuru district, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bengaluru, is the Hub and District Hospital, Mysuru, is the Spoke.