Lok Sabha Question No. 868 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-14
Subject: National Cancer Awareness Day
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SUDHEER GUPTA, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., S. RAJENDRAN, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 868 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH DECEMBER, 2018

## NATIONAL CANCER AWAR ENESS DAY

## 868. SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI S. RAJENDRAN:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

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

- (a) whether the Government observed National Cancer Awareness Day, 2018 in the country recently;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to achieve the aims and objectives of the event;
- (c) the details of programmes organized by the Government to mark this occasion;
- (d) whether the cancer treatment is also included under Pradhan Ma tri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide affordable medicines/treatment for cancer patients in the country?

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

(a) to (d): National Cancer Awareness day is observed on 07 th November every year. Health being a State subject, the Central Government requested the State Governments to organiz week special camps starting from 07 th November, 2018 focusing on awareness generation and screening for common cancers. Central Government also used print and other forms of me such as Radio FM to spread awareness on Cancer prevention and control. State Governmen carry out activities on awareness on cancer at their end also.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PMJAY) provides for benefit coverage of Rs. 5,00,000/ -to over more than 10 crore beneficiary families, giving cashless and paperless access to services for the beneficiary at the point of service in empanelled hospitals (both public and private) ac India.  More  than  1350  medical  packages  have  been  finalized  by  an  expert  committee.  T treatment of cancer is also included under PMJAY.

- (e): The treatment of Cancer in many of St ate and Central Government institutions is free for BPL patients and subsidized for others. The Central Government supplements the efforts o State Governments to prevent and control cancer and to provide affordable and accessible Some of the ste ps taken by Central Government are as follows:
- I. The objectives of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabete Cardiovascular  Diseases  and  Stroke  (NPCDCS)  being  implemented  under  National Health  Mission  (NHM)  for  interventions  upto  the  district  level  includes  aware generation f or Cancer prevention, screening, early detection and referral to an approp level institution for treatment. For Cancer, the focus is on three Cancer namely cervical and oral.
- II. To  enhance  the  facilities  for  tertiary  care  of  cancer,  the  Centra l  Government  is implementing  Tertiary  Care  Cancer  Centre  Scheme  to  support  the  setting  up  of  St Cancer Institutes (SCI) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) in different parts country.
- III. Oncology  in  its  various  aspects  has  focus  in  case  of  new AIIMS and many upgraded institutions under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY).
- IV. Setting up of National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Jhajjar (Haryana) and 2nd campu Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata and has been approved.
- V. The Government is providing financial assistance to patients living below poverty li life  threatening  diseases  under  the  schemes  such  as  Rashtriya  Arogya  Nidhi  (RAN Health Minister's Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF), State Illness Assistance Fund (SIAF) and Health Minister's Discretionary Grant (HMDG).
- VI. Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Deendayal outlets have  been  opened  at  146  Institutions/Hospitals  with  an  objective  to  make  avail Cancer  and  Cardiovascular  Diseases  drugs  an d  implants  at  discounted  prices  to  the patients. Jan Aushadhi stores are set up by Department of Pharmaceuticals to pro generic drugs at affordable prices.