A vaccine to combat cancer in women will be available within five to six months, and adolescent girls aged 9 to 16 will also be eligible for this vaccine, said Union Minister of State for Health, Family Welfare and Ayush Prataprao Jadhav on Tuesday. He said that research on the vaccine is almost complete, and trials are underway.
Jadhav highlighted the rising number of cancer patients in the country and assured that the central government is taking necessary measures to address this issue.
The Union minister said that women above the age of 30 will undergo screenings in hospitals, and daycare cancer centers will be established to ensure early detection of the disease. Additionally, the government has waived customs duty on medicines used for cancer treatment.
This vaccine will help combat breast cancer, oral cancer, and cervical cancer. When asked about the transformation of existing healthcare centers into AYUSH facilities, Jadhav mentioned that hospitals already have AYUSH departments, and people can avail themselves of these services.
He further stated that the country has 12,500 such healthcare facilities, and the government is working towards expanding them.