Lok Sabha Question No. 4779 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-23
Subject: Rise in Cancer Cases
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: PARVESH SAHIB SINGH

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

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTIO N NO. 4779 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 rd MARCH, 2018

## RISE IN CANCER CASES

## 4779. SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH:

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

- (a) whether an increase in the number of cancer cases has been found in the country duri g the last three years;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details of most significant contributing factor and percentage of cases that may be attributed to it;
- (d) the percentage of the cases that may have been caused by poor air quality, year - wise and State - wise, including Delhi; and
- (e) the corrective measures taken in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a) to (c): As per Indian Council of Medical Research's cancer registry data (2012 - 2014), the estimated incidence of cancer cases in the country reported during the l ast three years is given in the table below:

| Year                                         |    2015 |    2016 |    2017 |
|----------------------------------------------|---------|---------|---------|
| Estimated Incidence cancer cases -Both Sexes | 1388397 | 1451417 | 1517426 |

Cancer  is  a  multifactorial  disease,  the  risk  factor  of  which,  inter  alia, ageing population, sedentary life styles, use of Tobacco products, unhealthy diet, etc.

Based  on  the  report of  Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research  (ICMR)  &  National Cancer  Registry  Programme  'Three  Year  Report  of  Population  Based  Cancer  Registries 20122014' the percentage of cancers oc curring in sites associated with use of tobacco is 43.8% in males, 16.0% in females and for both sexes it is 30.1%.

- (d)& (e): Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research  has  informed  that  no  study  has  been conducted  by  them  attributing  increased  cancer  cases  wit h  air  quality.  The  data  about percentage of cancer cases caused due to air pollution is not maintained centrally.

Multisectorial action is required to prevent and control pollution. The Govern of India had constituted a Steering Committee on air pollution and health and the report has been shared with the relevant stake holders. Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change has also approved a new Mission on Health under National Action Plan on Climate Chang Ministry  of  Petroleum  and  Natural  Gas  h as  also  initiated  scheme  to  provide  free  LPG connection to women belonging to BPL households under 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna', to reduce indoor air pollution.

Central  Government  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  State  Government  for improving  health care  including  prevention,  diagnosis  and  treatment  of  Cancer.  Th objectives  of  National  Programme  for  Prevention  and  Control  of  Cancer,  Diabete Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) being implemented under National Health Mission (NHM) for interve ntions upto district level include awareness generation for Canc prevention,  opportunistic  screening,  early  detection  and  referral  to  an  appropria institution for treatment. The focus is on three types of cancer namely breast, cerv oral c ancer.

A  population  level  initiative  of  prevention,  control  and  screening  for  com Non - Communicable  Diseases  (diabetes,  hypertension  and  cancer  viz.  oral,  breast  a cervical cancer) has been rolled out in over 150 districts of the country in 2017 - 18  under NHM, as a part of comprehensive primary healthcare.

Measures taken by the Government to prevent diseases caused by various kinds pollution including air pollution also include the following:

- I. Provision of safe drinking water
- II. Reduction in emissions from vehicles, industries and power plants and other sou of air pollution
- III. Measures for safe disposal of human excreta through sanitary latrines
- IV. Treatment of diarrheal diseases, typhoid, worm infestation through public health are system
- V. Provision of clean sources of energy including LPG, electric and solar energy.