Breast, cervical cancers top list in Andhra; state spends Rs 400 crore on free treatment

Breast cancer accounted for nearly 16 percent of the total carcinoma cases in Andhra Pradesh in 2021-22.

As per the patient data aggregated from Aarogyasri services in Andhra Pradesh, cervical cancers took second place with around 14 percent. Over 6 percent of patients suffer from oral cancer.

Cancer claims approved under the Aarogyasri scheme alone increased to over Rs 400 crore in 2021-22 from about Rs 100 crore in 2014-15.

The data also revealed that over 10 percent of this expenditure goes to the treatment facilities in Hyderabad. East Godavari and Guntur contributed to 13% of the total cases each in 2021-22.

Based on the Aarogyasri data, Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Visakhapatnam ranked 5th and 14th respectively. The remaining were the corporate hospitals in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Special secretary, health and family welfare department, GS Naveen Kumar, said the health department has prepared a draft palliative care policy to augment palliative care infrastructure.

"The majority of advanced stage cancer patients need palliative care. Palliative care involves trauma management of patients as well as their families, he added.

Health minister V Rajini has given nod to set up a five-bed palliative care facility in every teaching hospital in the state. She asked the health authorities to make use of the national health mission funds for the same. Nearly Rs 1,000 crore was spent on cancer care under the Aarogyasri scheme alone in the last three years in Andhra Pradesh.