Lok Sabha Question No. 150 (STARRED), answered on 2016-11-25
Subject: Treatment of Cancer
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: PANKAJ CHOWDHARY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 150 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 25 TH NOVEMBER, 2016 TREATMENT OF CANCER

## †*150. SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of lack of facilities to treat canc and  non - availability  of  trained  staff  and  doctors  in  the  oncology  departme various  Government  hospitals  at  Centre and  State  levels  and  if  so,  the  detail thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to make required arrangements in this re and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether radiotherapy/chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer is being a as po sts of oncologist remained vacant for more than three years in these ho and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (d)  the  corrective  steps  taken  to  provide  hassle  free  treatment  to  cancer across the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a) to ( d):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 150* FOR 25 TH NOVEMBER, 2016

(a)  to  (d):  Health being  a  State  subject,  data  on  lack  of  facilities  to  treat patients and non - availability of trained staff and doctors including vacant post oncology departments in various Government hospitals is not maintained centra

Cancer  can  be  diag nosed  and  treated  at  various  levels  in  the  Governmen health  care  system.  Diagnosis  and  treatment  of  cancer  requires  specialist nurses  and  other  healthcare  workers.  For  doctors,  disciplines  such  as  s medicine, radiotherapy, radio diagnosis, palliative care among others are relevant. As  such  the  number  of  Allopathic  doctors  as  proportion  of  the  population country is less as compared to WHO norms. The number of radiotherapy machin in  the  country  is  less  than  the  norms  of  WHO  and  Inter national  Atomic  Energy Agency.

While  doctors  with  D.  M.  (Medical  Oncology),  M.Ch  (Surgical  Oncology) and M.D. (Radiation Oncology) treat Cancer patients in higher level tertia hospitals, Cancer is also being treated in hospitals by other Doctors s uch as General Surgeons,  Gynecologists,  ENT  Surgeons  etc.,  depending  on  the  type  and  sit Cancer.  In  fact,  Cancer  is  being  diagnosed  and  treated  at  various  levels Government health care system.

At present, there are 114 seats to be filled up eve ry year in various Oncology superspecialities. In addition, there are 200 seats in MD Radiotherapy who a largely involved in cancer treatment.

To augment the availability of doctors in the Oncology Department, the of  teachers  to  students  has been  revised  from  1:1  to  1:3  in  subjects  of  Medica Oncology and Surgical Oncology.

Government of India is implementing a comprehensive National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and S (NPCDCS) with foc us on 3 sites of Cancer namely breast, cervical and oral Can From  2013- 14  onwards,  interventions  under  NPCDCS  for  prevention,  early detection, diagnosis and treatment of Cancer, which can be taken up upto D level,  have  been  brought  under  the  u mbrella  of  National  Health  Mission.  NCD clinics are being set up under the programme.

The Government of India under 'Strengthening of Tertiary Care of Cancer' scheme  is  also  assisting  to  establish/strengthen  State  Cancer  Institutes (SCI)  and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) which will mentor all cancer related acti in different parts of the country. Setting up of National Cancer Institute (Haryana) and 2 nd campus of Chittranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata has been approved.

In addition to the facilities for treatment of Cancer and Heart diseas State Governments Health Institutes, the Central Government Institutions such India Institute of Medical   Sciences, Safdurjung Hospital, Dr Ram Mano ha Lohia Hospital, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, etc. also provide such facilities. Oncology has a focus new  AIIMS  and  many  upgraded  institutions  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Swasthya Suraksha Yo jna (PMSSY).

Treatment  of  Cancer  is  free  or  subsidized  at  the  Government  Healthc Delivery Systems.

Though public health is a  State subject, Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments' free drug service initiative under NPCDCS based on  their  Programme  Implementation  Plans.  To  make  available  Cancer  an Cardiovascular  drugs  at  discounted  prices,  Affordable  Medic ines  and  Reliable Implants  for  Treatment  (AMRIT)  outlets  have  been  opened  at  12  Centr Government  institutions.  Jan  Aushadhi  stores  are  set  up  by  Department Pharmaceuticals to provide generic drugs at affordable prices.

Financial assistance for life t hreatening diseases, to the patients living bel poverty  line,  is  provided  by  Central  Government  under  the  schemes  Rasht Arogya  Nidhi  (RAN),  Health  Minister's  Cancer  Patients  Fund  (HMCPF),  State Illness Assistance Fund (SIAF) and Health Minister's Dis cretionary Grant (HMDG).