Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur, is one of Asia’s biggest medical college and hospitals, has registered three-fold increase in cancer deaths. 49 cancer deaths were reported in 2020 but unfortunately 173 cancer patients died in GMCH during treatment in 2022.
The number of visits to outpatient department (OPD) of GMCH has increased in the last three years. Contrary to it, number of hospitalizations went down steadily which is a good sign. The information was shared by GMCH officials in reply to the RTI query by activist Abhay Kolarkar.
Experts are of the opinion that, Covid-19 pandemic is the main the reason for sharp increase in death of cancer patients. Many of the cancer patients couldn’t stick to their radiation therapy/Chemotherapy regimen/cycles due to COVID-19 restrictions/lockdowns etc.
OPD & IPD Statistics:
The number of OPD visits in 2022 increased to 6.20 lakh from 5.22 lakh in 2020. The number of patients hospitalized was more than 60,000 in 2020 which went down to 50,000 in 2022. It is good to know that majority of the patients make periodical visit to Hospital and take their proper treatment through Outpatient departments thereby reducing the burden of in-patient which is expensive, troublesome and inconvenient.
Funds allocation to GMCH, Nagpur:
In 2020, GMCH received Rs. 166.3 crore as grant. During Covid pandemic, the hospital received Rs. 192 crore in 2021. In the year 2022, Rs. 193.6 crore which means the increased allocation has continued even after the pandemic.
