The state health minister and the Bihar state government has assured that initiatives are being taken for early detection and treatment of cancer a state cancer institute would soon be set up to help patients seek treatment.

The Bihar government today asserted that concerted efforts were being made for early detection of cancer and treatment of patients afflicted with the disease through ultra modern methods. Replying to a call attention motion of BJP member Rajneesh Kumar in the state legislative council, health minister (In charge) Nand Kishore Yadav said if the cancer was diagnosed at primary stage, its treatment was possible without much difficulty. 

He said state health society had conducted a training programme for doctors at Mahavir Cancer Sansthan in the state capital so that cancer patients visiting medical institutes could be diagnosed in the beginning itself.  He said that detailed directives had also been prepared in joint efforts with Tata Trust for registration of cancer patients. These directives would be implement at prominent health institutes in the first phase so that cancer patients could be identified and their treatment could be done at different stages,added Mr Yadav. 

He said that the government's efforts had yielded encouraging results so far. Mr Yadav said tobacco consumption was one of the prominent reasons for cancer and necessary steps were being taken for controlling the consumption of tobacco.  He said Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences at Sheikhpura in the state capital was already equipped with facilities for diagnosing cancer and also for treating cancer patients. He said a state cancer institute at the cost of Rs 120 crore would be set up at the hospital with contribution of Rs 90 crore from the centre and rest from the state government.