`Nearly 50,000 new cancer patients in Kerala every yr`

Thiruvananthapuram: Expressing concern over increase in the number of cancer patients in Kerala, Health Minister VS Sivakumar today said nearly 50,000 new cases are reported every year in the state.

Replying to a calling attention on the issue in the assembly, he said government was aware of the situation and had taken several steps for treatment. The focus was to make available cancer treatment facilities in all medical colleges and general hospitals, he said.

The process of setting up mini-Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs) in five government medical colleges and upgrading the RCC to a National Cancer Centre was on, he said.

Moving the motion, V S Sunil Kumar (CPI) wanted government to take necessary steps to enhance cancer treatment facilities in medical colleges to provide quality treatment to patients.