Calcutta, April 17: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today promised free treatment for all cancer and cardiac patients at state-run hospitals but senior officials in the administration said they were not sure how such a scheme could be implemented.

"The state government would soon make treatment of all types of cancer, cardiac problems and blood disorders completely free in state government-run hospitals and medical colleges," the chief minister announced on her Facebook page.

Now, BPL patients are provided treatment and drugs free of cost at government hospitals. But the chief minister's announcement means people of all income groups could avail themselves of free drugs and equipment.

But a section of health officials and doctors said the job to provide free treatment and drugs to several lakhs of patients was easier said than done.

Critical patients are turned away by state-run hospitals because of lack of beds and there is also a huge shortage of doctors, nurses and paramedics. The cash-strapped government will need a huge amount of funds to provide subsidy for the free drugs and medical equipment.

Some health experts apprehended that the quality of health care might deteriorate further with the additional burden. They felt the state had to create the infrastructure and arrange for continuous flow of funds to make such an ambitious project successful.

Health department sources said the announcement came a day after senior Swastha Bhavan officials held a meeting with principals of medical colleges and heads of departments of radiotherapy, cardiology and some other fields of medical speciality and discussed the government's proposal.

"The idea is in a nascent stage. We have to work out the details such as allotment of funds, creating infrastructure and recruiting specialists," a health department official said.

The government is running a pilot project in a few health-care units in north Bengal under the Union government's national cancer control programme.

In her post, Mamata wrote: "The services to be provided would include all types of medicines, radiation therapy, surgical procedures like open heart surgery, bypass surgery, repair and replacement of valves and insertion of different types of implants like stents and pace makers."

In yesterday's meeting, the health officials said modern linear accelerator devices for radiation therapy would be installed at all medical colleges soon.

According to doctors, on an average, a patient has to pay around Rs 6,000 for each cycle of radiotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs are available at cheap rates in fair price shops but in the retail market, the price of one cycle of chemotherapy drugs can vary between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2 lakh, oncologists said.

Doctors said in some cases of breast cancer, hormone therapy was used. Usually, the period of treatment is four to five years. The monthly cost of hormone therapy drugs can be Rs 30,000 on average, the oncologists said.

"Cancer treatment is very expensive because of the recurring cost of drugs. The cost of surgery is also huge," said a senior oncologist in Calcutta.

In some of the leading private hospitals in Calcutta, a package of radiation therapy costs between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh.

Stents and pacemakers for cardiac patients are also expensive at private hospitals.

"There are bare metal stents costing Rs 20,000. But a good quality drug-coated stent costs around Rs 2 lakh. The price of a pacemaker can be as high," said a city-based cardiologist.

A bypass surgery at a private hospital costs around Rs 1.3 lakh and higher, doctors said.

At government-run medical colleges such as SSKM, the costs are much lower. Sources said an open-heart surgery cost around Rs 50,000. The procedures for implanting stents and pacemakers cost around Rs 10,000. But the equipment has to be bought either from fair price shops or from retail pharmacies, sources said.

"The scope of treatment of blood disorders, including blood cancer, thalassemia, alplastic anaemia, hemophilia, etc would also be enhanced to offer universal coverage. The programme will be launched very soon after tying up the logistics and other issues," Mamata announced in her Facebook post.

Swastha Bhavan officials said the plan was to initially provide free treatment at tertiary health-care institutes like medical colleges. Later, it would be made available at secondary hospitals in the districts.

"The idea is excellent but the implementation will be a huge challenge," said a doctor at a government medical college.

The medical colleges refuse patients because of lack of beds and there are waiting list for surgeries and procedures.

Sources said for open-heart bypass surgeries, the average waiting time in medical colleges was one month. Patients have to wait for five to six weeks to get a date for radiation therapy.

According to records, there are more than 3 lakh cancer patients in the state.

According to estimates, there is a huge shortage of doctors at government hospitals. The state needs 1,500 specialists for the existing facilities.