Chennai, May 7 || In a major step towards improving cancer detection and treatment in rural areas, the Tamil Nadu Health Department is set to launch an Organised Cancer Screening Programme across 12 districts.
The initiative, aimed at early diagnosis and timely medical intervention, will be implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM).
The pilot project will be rolled out in Thiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Vellore, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Dharmapuri, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Theni, Madurai, Tiruchy, and Karur districts, and the launch is tentatively scheduled for May 9, according to a senior health department official.
"The primary objective of the programme is to diagnose cancer at the earliest possible stage and provide necessary medical support to affected individuals," the official said.
He noted that district-level training sessions have already been conducted for healthcare personnel who will be deployed on the ground.
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, the official pointed out that cancer diagnosis and treatment are currently concentrated in government and private hospitals, making them less accessible to people in remote areas.