Meghalaya Records 176 Cancer Cases Per Lakh, Health Minister Reveals

CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: Meghalaya has one of the highest cancer rates in India, particularly for mouth and oesophagus cancer, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh revealed. Citing data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), she said the state records 176 cancer cases per one lakh population, while East Khasi Hills alone reports 227 cases per lakh-more than double the national average of 100 per lakh.

"Meghalaya is unfortunately one of the highest detectors of mouth and oesophagus cancer, and we are taking administrative decisions to ensure that we are ready to face and combat this disease in its current situation," Lyngdoh said.

The minister further added, "The ICMR data discloses that we have as many as 176 cancer cases per one lakh population-that is big-whereas, in East Khasi Hills, we have recorded 227 cases per lakh, more than double the national average. The government is committed to ensuring that we combat this disease alongside addressing other health concerns."

Emphasizing the urgency of the situation, she said the government is ensuring early diagnosis and access to affordable treatment. "Today, Civil Hospital, on average, has a total of 8,382 outdoor cancer patients in 2024. Of this, around 1,649 are new cases, and in radiotherapy alone, 456 patients require treatment," she said.

The radiotherapy unit is being expanded, and the bed capacity at Civil Hospital will soon increase from 50 to 200 beds. NEIGRIHMS also offers advanced cancer treatments, including specialized surgeries and diagnostic tools like PET scans.

"We have now upgraded the 50-bed capacity to 90 beds, and we are preparing proposals to increase it to 200 beds," Lyngdoh said.

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