Lok Sabha Question No. 1773 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-25
Subject: Research for Treatment of TB and Cancer
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS, INNOCENT, KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR, RAJESHBHAI NARANBHAI CHUDASAMA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1773 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH NOVEMBER, 2016

## RESEARCH FOR TREATME NT OF TB AND CANCER

## 1773. SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

SHRI INNOCENT:

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware about  the  research  by  doctors  of  AIIMS, New  Delhi wherein it has been detected that a virus strain from China is spreading Tuberculosis (TB) in the country, if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether the virus is spreading in the country through North Eastern States, if so, the details thereof and concrete measures taken/be ing taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the country is still lagging behind in the field of research of medicine to eliminate cancer, if so, the latest position of the development for the research/ treatment of cancer;
- (d) whether the Government has any plan to work together with the other countries already doing research in this regard, if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether the health research department under the Ministry has found that soft drin ks contain dangerous chemical substances, if so, the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a): Yes.  The  Government  is  aware  about the  study  where  Beijing  strain  of  the  bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been identified by doctors in AIIMS.
- (b) : There is no conclusive evidence that the Beijing strain is spreading through North E states.

(c) & (d): In  the  Government sector,  Research  activities  for  detection  and  treatmen cancer  are mostly carried out by Institutions/Departments such as the Indian Council of Research,  Department  of  Science  and  Technology  and  Department  of  Atomic  Energy.  The Bhabha Atomic  Research  Centre  has  developed  Bhabhatron  and  the  Society  for  Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) has developed Linear Accelerator (LINAC).

The   Indian   Council   of   Medical   Research   is   promoting   cancer research including  epidemiological,  clinical,  basic  and  translational  research.  The    ICMR    has developed protocols  for  the  management  (including  treatment)  of  Buccal  Mucosa  C Gall  Bladder Cancer,  Stomach  Cancer,  Colorectal  Can cer,  and  Tongue  Cancer. The institute of  Cytology  and Preventive  Oncology  under  the  Indian  Council  of  Medical  Resear developed  a  hand  held device called Magnivisualizer with inbuilt source of light tha used in field conditi ons for early detection of cervical cancer and oral cancer lesions.

(e): Department of Health Research has no information with respect to dangerous chemic substances found in soft drinks.