About 50,000 cancer patients travel in the buses for treatment facilities every year, state Health Minister Rao Narender said in a release today.
It has come to notice that a cancer patient usually has to visit hospitals on an average 15 times in a year for treatment and they have to spend hefty amount as travelling expense, he said.
Keeping this in view, the state government has decided to provide free travelling facility to such patients in state-owned buses, he said.
A provision of Rs 5 crore has been made for this purpose.
Such patients could avail this facility on the basis of an identity card issued by the Civil Surgeon of the district. This card would be valid for maximum 15 visits (to and fro) or for one year.
After the expiry of validity, the patient would have to submit the identity card in the office of Civil Surgeon and thereafter, a new one would be issued, he added.
The office of the Civil Surgeon would be required to maintain complete record in this regard and on the basis of it, the reimbursement would be made to transport department by the Health Department.
