JALANDHAR
District Legal Services Authority, Jalandhar will organize an awareness programme on February 4, to mark World Cancer Day at Bhogpur in coordination with Health and the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats. Besides, the authority will also carry out an extensive awareness campaign in the entire district in February and March through its Para Legal Volunteers.
In this regard, a meeting was held by District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Jalandhar Nirbhow Singh Gill with the DDPO Jalandhar, BDPO and Medical Officers. Cancer Specialist, Civil Hospital, Jalandhar Prabhsharan Kaur apprised that all cancer patients are entitled to benefits of Chief Minister, Punjab Cancer Relief Fund Scheme in which they are given financial help up to Rs. 1,50,000. Any patient diagnosed with cancer, on the application moved by him or his family, would be provided with an estimate of expenditure of treatment, breakups of expenditure, and schedule details by the hospital where his treatment would be started.
The financial help to a cancer patient includes tests and medicines for the treatment and it will not include office expenses, diet, ambulance, and other miscellaneous charges. The treatment in Government hospitals and impanelled hospitals shall be started immediately after the diagnosis.
She further added that lack of awareness amongst the masses is reason for delay in treatment. Besides, people are afraid of stigma of the disease and also of expenditure on its treatment.
Baljinder Singh Maan, Secretary DLSA, Jalandhar revealed that the procedure for getting financial aid is very simple as the patient or his family members can apply on the prescribed proforma before Medical Superintendent/Civil Surgeon of the District along with documents i.e. copy of the report regarding diagnose of cancer duly attested by the doctor, copy of sanction order if any aid was taken previously, estimate of treatment from the hospital where the treatment is undergoing, two latest passport size photographs and self-declaration.
He further added that in case any patient is facing any difficulty in getting benefits of the scheme, he can approach DLSA, Jalandhar and his case will be taken up with the concerned authorities for necessary action.
During the campaign, the public will be made aware of the Financial Aid Scheme for Cancer patients as well as early symptoms of the disease, its prevention, and its cure. Pamphlets having proformas of application, estimates, self-declaration, and checklist of documents will also be distributed which would be helpful for the patients in applying for aid under the scheme.