Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, Jan 1: Chennai is set to strengthen its public healthcare infrastructure with the launch of a dedicated cancer screening centre exclusively for women at Thousand Lights, expected to become operational by February. The facility, aimed at early detection and prevention, will provide free screening services for cancers that most commonly affect women in Tamil Nadu—breast, cervical and ovarian cancers.
The centre is being established at an estimated cost of Rs 1.23 crore and will function under the Greater Chennai Corporation’s Health Department. Housed in a three-storeyed building, it will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all days except Sundays, making it accessible to working women as well as those from surrounding neighbourhoods.
Once operational, the centre will be equipped with modern diagnostic facilities, including a mammogram unit for breast cancer screening, a laboratory to conduct Pap smear tests for the early detection of cervical cancer, and an ultrasound unit for screening abdominal and ovarian cancers. A dedicated consultation room will also be available to ensure that women receive proper medical guidance following their tests.
Although government hospitals currently offer several diagnostic services free of charge, advanced cancer screening procedures such as mammograms and specialised scans often require patients to visit private hospitals, where costs can be prohibitive. The new centre is designed to bridge this gap by bringing comprehensive cancer screening under one roof at no cost, particularly benefiting women from economically weaker sections.
Thousand Lights MLA Dr Ezhilan Naganathan, who announced the initiative, said the idea was driven by the rising cancer burden in the state. Emphasising the importance of early diagnosis, he noted that timely screening can significantly improve treatment outcomes and survival rates. He also revealed plans to create a detailed data registry of women who undergo screening at the centre. This database, he said, would support medical research and help shape long-term cancer prevention and public health strategies.
Dr J. Amalorpavanathan, a member of the State Planning Commission, described the initiative as both timely and necessary. He pointed out that Tamil Nadu accounts for about 6.4 per cent of India’s total cancer cases, despite having only 5.6 per cent of the country’s population. This disparity, he said, underscores the urgent need for focused screening and preventive healthcare measures.
He further explained that while cervical cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers among women in rural areas, urban regions like Chennai are seeing a steady rise in breast cancer cases. This shift, according to him, is often associated with changing lifestyles, delayed marriages and later childbirth.
With its focus on accessibility, early detection and data-driven prevention, the upcoming women’s cancer screening centre at Thousand Lights is expected to play a crucial role in improving public health outcomes and reducing the long-term impact of cancer among women in the city.