A new day care chemotherapy facility has been inaugurated at the Wenlock District Hospital in Mangaluru, set to operate in collaboration with KMC Hospital. This hub-and-spoke model will be formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding, where KMC will serve as the hub, and Wenlock as the spoke.
Dr. DS Shivaprakash, superintendent of Wenlock Hospital, stated that this centre will offer free cancer treatment under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka Scheme. KMC will contribute by assigning specialists, medical staff, and supplying medicines, while Wenlock will ensure infrastructure support, including oxygen and medical equipment.
Plans are also underway to establish a comprehensive chemotherapy ward and palliative care unit within Wenlock Hospital to further enhance cancer care services.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah virtually inaugurated 16 such day care chemotherapy units from Mysuru, including those at Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru and the District Hospital in Udupi.
In Udupi, Deputy Commissioner K Vidya Kumari highlighted that many cancer patients discontinue chemotherapy due to the prohibitive costs in private hospitals. The new centre aims to bridge this gap by offering affordable, accessible treatment to underprivileged patients. Patients who began treatment in certified tertiary cancer hospitals can now continue chemotherapy in these local centres.
The Udupi centre is staffed with medical oncologists and trained chemotherapy nurses, ensuring quality care. With existing surgical oncology services already in place, the district is now better equipped to provide seamless cancer treatment post-surgery.
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