Before World Cancer Day, the Central Government has taken an important step for the patients suffering from lung cancer. Union Health Minister JP Nadda has issued new national guidelines related to the treatment and care of patients with lung cancer. These guidelines have been introduced under the name Lung Cancer Treatment and Palliation: Evidence-Based Guidelines, the objective of which is to make the treatment process more scientific, uniform and effective across the country.

The Health Minister said that through these guidelines, it will be ensured that lung cancer patients in every part of India get the same quality treatment. He clearly said that the time has come when India should develop treatment strategies according to its ground realities and needs, instead of merely copying foreign health models.

JP Nadda said that the most serious problem related to lung cancer is its late detection. He said that in most of the cases the disease appears when it has reached advanced stage, which makes treatment difficult. Keeping this challenge in mind, the government is now focusing on strengthening the screening and testing facilities, especially for those who fall in the high-risk category. If the disease is identified at an early stage, then the treatment is not only more effective, but the life of the patients can also be improved.

A total of 15 important recommendations have been included in these new guidelines. In these, not only has emphasis been laid on modern and proven methods of treatment, but equal importance has also been given to patient care i.e. palliative care. This will help doctors to take right decisions at the right time and the difference in treatment methods can also be reduced to a great extent.

The Health Minister said that India’s fight against cancer will no longer be limited to treatment alone, but will see a balance of science, compassion and strong leadership. The goal is to ensure that no patient is left behind in terms of treatment and care. All these guidelines will be made available on the official website of the Department of Health Research (DHR). Along with this, its summary will also be released in easy language for the patients and their families, so that the common people can easily understand these guidelines and can take decisions related to treatment with correct information.