Patna: Only around 53% of children diagnosed with cancer in Bihar currently have access to treatment, including those referred to hospitals outside the state, prompting the Bihar govt to launch a statewide initiative to strengthen childhood cancer care.The State Health Society, Bihar (SHSB), on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under the Change for Childhood Cancer – Bihar initiative, making Bihar the 10th state in the country to adopt such a partnership for childhood cancer care.Officials said the initiative aims to establish a coordinated network across all 38 districts and Bihar’s four Childhood Cancer Care District Clusters. It will focus on early detection, diagnosis, referral, treatment and shared care, besides capacity building, patient navigation, multidisciplinary treatment, financial protection, survivorship support and data-driven monitoring.At present, childhood cancer care in Bihar is anchored by four major treatment centres. Officials said the new partnership seeks to improve access to treatment through a coordinated referral system linking district health facilities with specialised hospitals.Following the signing of the MoU, a programme titled ‘The Bihar Promise’ was held at Mahavir Cancer Sansthan here. Officials said the sansthan began supporting childhood cancer care in Bihar in 2008-09 by establishing its first hospital support unit outside Delhi. More than 250 people, including over 200 children undergoing treatment, cancer survivors, their families, doctors, nurses and hospital staff, attended the event.According to officials, the partnership aims to ensure universal access to treatment, full financial protection and improve the childhood cancer survival rate to at least 60% by 2030 through an integrated statewide care system.
