Gas victims in Madhya Pradesh might receive free cancer treatment from AIIMS through an MOU with the gas relief department. However, the MOU management has not been signed, preventing cancer patients from receiving free AIIMS treatment. Bhopal Memorial Hospital & Research Centre closed its oncology department.
Recently, the Madhya Pradesh government’s gas relief and rehabilitation agency signed an MOU with AIIMS, Bhopal, to provide free cancer treatment to gas victims. On September 16, 2021, a division bench of MP high court ordered AIIMS, Bhopal, to treat gas victims with cancer for free.
The gas relief department and AIIMS, Bhopal, management could not sign an MOU until now, depriving cancer patients gas victims of free treatment at AIIMS. The Bhopal Memorial Hospital & Research Centre (BMHRC) oncology section is closed, and none of the state’s gas relief facilities treat cancer.
At the previous hearing of the medical care petition of gas victims in the MP high court, cancer patient Sapna Charasia told the judges that she had spent over Rs 3 lakh on treatment despite the gas relief department authorizing it due to technical issues between AIIMS, Bhopal and the gas relief department. The court asked the gas relief department for specifics.
The decision is welcome. Gas sufferers should now find it easier to obtain free cancer treatment at AIIMS. Gas victims have struggled for years to seek cancer treatment. The gas relief department and AIIMS rushed to sign the MOU before the next hearing on January 24 after the high court requested details on January 18.
Conclusion
Gas victims in Madhya Pradesh can receive free cancer treatment at AIIMS in Bhopal thanks to an MOU between the state’s gas relief and rehabilitation department and AIIMS. A MP high court division bench seized of a public interest litigation requested the MOU. Cancer patients were denied free AIIMS treatment when the MOU failed to be finalized. The oncology section of Bhopal Memorial Hospital & Research Centre is closed, and none of the state’s gas relief hospitals treat cancer.
