Arunachal Pradesh Health Minister Biyuram Wahge said that the rate of cancer cases in the state is very high compared to others. He said this while attending the inaugural session of the 20th Annual Conference of the Association of Oncologists of North East India today. The two-day conference is being held in Itanagar.

Mr. Wahge said that to understand the root cause of the rising cancer cases in the state, the government has signed an MoU with Dr. B Borooah Cancer Institute of Assam to make a comprehensive research study, particularly at Ziro Valley in Lower Subansiri District.

The health minister said that Papum Pare District is in Arunachal Pradesh, and Aizawl in Mizoram has the highest concentration of cancer cases in the whole northeastern region.

Dr. Bhibhuti Bhusan Borthakur, Director of Dr. B Borooah Cancer Institute, Assam, informed that very soon a state cancer institute will be set up in Arunachal Pradesh, which will help in reducing the cancer cases in the state.

The event is being organised by the Association of Oncologists of Northeast India and the State Cancer Society of Arunachal Pradesh. Oncologists from across Northeast India are attending the conference. This year, the conference aims to facilitate knowledge sharing, discussions, and collaborations among oncologists, researchers, and healthcare professionals to advance cancer care in the region.