PANAJI
The Directorate of Health Services is embarking on an ambitious path to ensure early detection of cancer is within the reach of an average Goan by introducing top end investigation tools into the regular healthcare system.
According to Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, Goa could soon become the first Indian State to introduce the ‘Foundation One’ test crucial to early detection of cancer.
Additionally cancer therapy guidelines will be enhanced with diagnostic and treatment protocols costing lakhs of rupees in the private sector adopted, he said, adding that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds will be used to partly finance it. The protocols may also involve shipping the biopsy samples to the United States with results being accessible within one-two weeks.
Meanwhile, the DHS is also on the way to equipping all of its 213 health centers with IStat machines -- portable blood testing instruments which give results in minutes.
