[ With cap on govt help,poor patients face a slow death without treatment.]Many withdraw from Medical Care,Not Able To Afford it.

sunitharao@timesgroup.com

When Satish Gowda,55 a vendor from Chickballapur,suffered a relapse of tongue cancer,after doctors suggested him tongue reconstruction through a plastic surgery along with radiation therapy He,however stopped the treatment.The reason the Vajpayee Arogya BPL insurance scheme which he is a beneficiary does not provide treatment on relapse or any surgery to get back his voice.

Satish is not alone hundreds of cancer patients in Karnataka are withdrawing from treatment and facing a slow death not being able to afford the cost.

Even as the number of cancer cases is on the rise,the vajpayee Arogya scheme provides only Rs.1.5 lakhs for the poor patient and Yeshasvini insurance scheme for poor farmers does't cover for chemotherapy.Oncologists say there is a gap between technological advancement in cancer care and funds provided under govt schemes."Poor cancer patients in India end up getting only mediocre chemotherapy."a senior Oncologists said.

Over 50% of cancer deaths across the world happen in Russia,India and China,according to a recent WHO research.The fact sheet says that while India spends $ 641 per cancer patients,China spends $ 2,200 and Russia $ 3,780.The US spends a whopping $96,758 on each cancer patient.

Though the govt wants to help the needy cancer patients it lacks the vision,say oncologists who see patients withdrawing treatment because of un affordability."For some tests,cyber knife technology needs to be used.But the govt insurance scheme does not cover it,and provides only the basic treatment"said Dr.Vishal Rao member of the high powered committee on tobacco control set up by Karnataka govt.

According to Dr.B.S.Ajai Kumar founder of HCG Cancer Care,the mortality rate is high among BPL patients.They need the best treatment as they have to get back to work.While formulating insurance schemes,the govt should consult doctors he added.

Dr.Santosh Gowda, head of medical oncology Mazumdar Shah Cancer Center said,"In India,the treatment is based on affordability.It's sad we can't prescribe them the best medicine as they can't afford it.When contacted a senior officer from health and family welfare department said the situation may and will improve if the govt makes budgetary allocation keeping cancer care in mind.