Palampur, April 23: Increase in cases of renal failure, gastric ulcer, hepatic, cancer and tuberculosis in the state has become a matter of serious concern. Every seventh person here suffers from either of these ailments. Excessive dose of painkillers given to patients for long periods is said to be one of the main causes behind diseases like renal failure and gastric ulcers. During a recent study conducted on this subject by a team of experts of the state, it was established that medicines like paracetamol and analgesics were more harmful and should not be prescribed for long periods. Of 100 patients taking painkillers for a long period, 40 could become victims of such a disease. A senior physician confirmed that a heavy dose of painkillers of substandard companies given for a long period could cause renal failure and gastric ulcers, which could aggravate diseases like ulcer colitis. He said doctors working in the state's rural areas are largely not updated with the latest medicines. Therefore, they have often been prescribing drugs not approved by the US FDA. He said a number of painkillers, mostly analgesics, being prescribed in the state, have proved quite harmful and could damage the liver or result in liver cancer. Many of these medicines have already been banned in the US and European countries. Doctors working in the state should take care while prescribing such medicines, he added. Another dreaded disease, tuberculosis, has also been spreading in the state. It has posed a serious threat to human health, particularly in Kangra district. In the absence of proper infrastructure and medical care and there being poor management of the Health Department and lack of indoor facilities in state hospitals, most tuberculosis patients are not attended to properly. Despite the fact that medicines are often given free of cost to these patients, in the absence of indoor facilities, patients are advised to take medicines at home. Barring a few district hospitals, there are no separate isolation wards for tuberculosis patients in the state. No doctor admits them in general wards because from those patients found to be sputum positive, if admitted in general wards, infection could spread on to other patients. Worrying statistics Every seventh person here suffers from renal failure, gastric ulcer, hepatic, cancer and tuberculosis Excessive dose of painkillers given to patients for long periods is said to be one of the main causes behind diseases like renal failure and gastric ulcers During a recent study conducted on this subject, it was established that medicines like paracetamol and analgesics were more harmful and should not be prescribed for long periods Of 100 patients taking painkillers for a long period, 40 could become victims of such a disease.