Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today formally launched the Government's free anti-cancer drugs treatment scheme at Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute. Launching the new initiative of the State Health Department at the premier cancer institute of the region, Gogoi said, "This scheme of providing anti-cancer drugs to the patients will give much-needed relief to them, as often patients find it difficult either to start or to continue the treatment because of the high cost of the drugs.' Referring to the initiative he said, "This scheme is a part of Government of Assam's earnest endeavour to improve the healthcare system through a slew of initiatives undertaken in the past couple of years.' He said that with the availability of chemotherapy drugs free of cost in the cancer institute equipped with the state-of-the-art technology, patients do not have to go outside the State for treatment. The Chief Minister while appreciating the good work done by the institute, said, "I am happy to know that patients who went outside for treatment has returned to this institute for further treatment.' He assured the Government's continued help to develop the institute into a well-equipped one for cancer treatment, research and training. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Himanta Biswa Sarma, described the free chemotherapy treatment launch as a red-letter day for the State, as "there is no State in the country where such a scheme has been implemented.'' "Some of the drugs for the treatment of cancer are beyond the reach of the patients resulting in discontinuation of the same on account of which patients die early. A cancer patient has to spend about Rs.12 lakh for drugs comprising six cycles of doses alone leave aside treatment and other expenses. But now with the free chemotherapy treatment in the institute, the three medical colleges and Cachar Cancer Hospital, patients will get the much-needed respite.' Sarma announced that the Government would also launch a host of new initiatives at the directive of the Chief Minister, which include free post operative kidney transplant treatment, spectacles and hearing aid to poor people in the coming months. He said the State Government's initiative to provide pacemaker free of cost to the heart patients has already received good response from the patients and public alike. Already 135 pacemakers have been implanted, he added. The Health Minister also formally launched the district cancer control programme of the cancer institute for Barpeta, Nalbari and Darrang districts. Similar programmes for Morigaon, Nagaon and Kamrup districts have been started by the institute from January 1 this year. Earlier, the Director of the BBCI, Dr AC Kakoty said that the launching of the free anti-cancer drug treatment scheme would immensely help large number of patients irrespective of their economic status. Attributing the high incidence of cancer cases in Assam and the North East region, with urban Kamrup district in Assam being the second highest in terms of cancer patients in the country due to ignorance, superstition, poverty and other factors, Dr Kakoty said, "Large number of cancer cases can be prevented and diagnosed at an early stage through public awareness at community level. There are 172 cancer patients in the State as against 1 lakh population. Such a scheme will go a long way in increasing the life span of people afflicted with cancer.'