<span style="color: #222222;">The Rajya Sabha has taken up a short duration discussion on the need to ensure basic facilities and affordable treatment to cancer patients. Initiating the discussion, Vishambhar Prasad Nishad of Samajwadi Party drew the attention of the House towards inadequate health facility for the treatment of the disease in the country. </span><br />''<br />''He also highlighted the unaffordable cost of medicines of the deadly disease. Mr Nishad demanded that every district hospital should have cancer treatment facilities. <br />''Wansuk Syiem of Congress stressed the need to create awareness among the people about cancer. She also said the North Eastern region does not have any big hospital where this disease can be treated.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Vikas Mahatme of BJP also talked about awareness among the people. He said the NDA government has controlled the price of cancer medicines. Prasanna Acharya of BJD and Prof. Jogen Chowdhury of TMC also expressed their views. </span>