The Centre has launched a new health programme to create awareness of early detection of diseases like cancer, dialectics, heart ailments and stroke, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Sudip Bandyopadhyay said today.
"As a pilot project, 100 districts in the country have been identified to implement the schemes," he told PTI here.
Of this number five districts are in Kerala- Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kozhikode and Thrissur - for which Rs 30 crore has been released, Bandyopadhyay said.
He said the government's aim was to extend the project to the entire country by adding more districts ever year.
Under the programme, test kits, medicines and other treatment facilities would be made available at district levels at special Health Cells, he said.
Another programme to deal with health problems of the aged has also been initiated, he said, adding six regional centres would be set up under the National Health Programme for the elderly.
Bandyopadhyay, who was here to review Centrally sponsored health schemes in the state, said the Centre has sanctioned Rs 125 crore for modernising Kozhikode Medical College.
The Centre is also considering Kerala government's request to modernise the other three medical colleges, he said.