Assamese Children With Leukaemia to Get Free Treatment

The Assam government will soon launch a scheme to support the cost of treatment for leukaemia among children below 12 years of age.

Assam Health Minister Himata Biswa Sarma announced this on June 2, 2012 while interacting with media persons after attending a function at the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Guwahati.

Sarma also informed the media persons that the government had already floated tenders from reputed health institutions across the country for setting up a multi-specialty hospital at Amingaon. The proposed hospital will offer free leukaemia treatment to under-12 children.

The health minister said that about 315 children suffering from congenital heart complications would be sent to Bangalore's Narayana Hrudyalaya this year to get treated by specialists as part of the state government's ongoing program.

The state has already treated over 500 such children successfully in the past years, he said.

"The government is spending approximately Rs 2 lakh on each child under the program, which includes air fare, lodging and medical expenses," the minister added.