President calls for action to combat cancer, drug abuse

President Draupadi Murmu visited Bathinda on Tuesday where she addressed the first convocation of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the 10th convocation of the Central University of Punjab (CUP).

- Vishal Joshi

BATHINDA: In her remarks at both events, Murmu emphasised the need for advanced medical research, particularly to tackle the rising cancer rates in Punjab's Malwa region and to address the growing issue of substance abuse, while also praising the academic achievements at CUP.

At AIIMS, Murmu commended the institute for its swift progress since it began offering MBBS courses and medical treatment in 2019.

The President described AIIMS, Bathinda, as a key player in providing affordable and high-quality healthcare to the region, noting its potential to evolve into a regional centre for medical excellence.

Murmu expressed concern over the alarming cancer rates in the Malwa belt, a region for its higher-than-national-average cancer statistics.