CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government will launch free treatment programme by spending over Rs 2.5 crore for over 700 school-going children suffering from thalassaemia, funds for which would be partly met by the state and grants from the union government.

Stating this here on Thursday, Punjab Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla said that the government has taken a serious view of the ailment.

Cancer patients too would be covered under the scheme, she sauid. Already over 100 students studying in government and aided schools suffering from congenital and rheumatic heart diseases besides cancer have been operated upon by the PGIMR here and other leading hospitals in the state under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

In all, the government has spent over Rs 1.20 crore till date. Chawla revealed that the project for treatment of these patients started way back in November 2008 and till date 313 children have been referred to PGIMR, 91 to DMC Ludhiana, eight to Siler Oak Hospital, Mohali and three to IVY hospital Mohali.

Of these children, 100 have been operated upon while the remaining would be treated by March 2010 at a cost of Rs three crore.So roughly, one lakh rupees is spent on each child.

Also, the cancer treatment programme was started in May this year and already 30 children have been referred to PGIMR and already Rs 10 lakh have been spent on these patients.

Since the scheme covers only the school-going children, Chawla said revealed that whenever a non-school going child comes to the notice, the department first ensures his admission in school and then goes in for his treatment. Interestingly, she said such treated children continued their education as the patients were convinced that the school had made their treatment possible. The children, most of whom have been leading sheltered lives, were upbeat about their future.

The parents, many of whom are daily wagers, see the operations as life changing moments.