Lok Sabha Question No. 4195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-13
Subject: Cancer Care Infrastructure
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Venkatesh Netha Borlakunta, Kotha Prabhakar  Reddy

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTI ON NO. 4195 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 TH DECEMBER, 2019

## CANCER CARE INFRASTR UCTURE

## 4195. SHRI VENKATESH NETHA BORLAKUNTA: SHRI KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that cancer care infrastructure in the country is highly ina forces a majority of patients to travel thousands of kilome tres for treatment, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether systemic failure to address needs results in 20 per cent higher mortality, details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the corrective steps being taken to address this issue through the Tata Memorial Cent future?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (c): Cancer is being diagnosed and treated at v arious levels in the Government health care system. While doctors with D. M. (Medical Oncology), M.Ch (Surgical Oncology) an M.D. (Radiation Oncology) treat Cancer patients in higher level tertiary care hospitals is also being treated in hospitals by other Doctors such as General Surgeons, Gynecologists, ENT  Surgeons  etc.,  depending  on  the  type  and  site  of  Cancer. The  cancer  survival  rate  is generally  believed  to  depend  upon , am gst  others,  stage  at  diagnosis,  stage  of  initiation treatment, ty pe and site of cancer, correct and complete treatment. Overall mortality rate in India is lower than that of many other countries including USA.

To tackle the challenge of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD), including cancer, 599 NCD Clinics at District leve l and 3,274 NCD Clinics at Community Health Centre level have been  set  up  under  National  Programme  for  Prevention  and  Control  of  Cancer,  Diabete Cardiovascular  Diseases  and  Stroke  (NPCDCS).    Population  level  initiative  for  preven control and screeni ng for common NCDs (diabetes, hypertension and common cancers viz. oral, breast and cervical cancer) has also been rolled out under the National Health Mission (N over 215 districts. Screening of common NCDs including three common cancers i.e. oral, breast and cervical is also an integral part of service delivery under Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres. Several measures have been taken to discourage the use of tobacco prod which is one of the key risk factors of Cancer. Otherinitiatives like promoting healthy lifestyles through healthy eating and regular physical activity are also being undertaken . To  enhance  the  facilities  for  tertiary  care  of  cancer,  the  Central  Governme implementing Strengthening of Tertiary Care for Cancer Scheme, under which setting up of 18 State  Cancer  Institutes  and  20  Tertiary  Care  Cancer  Centres  have  been  approved.    Fur Oncology is also one of the focus areas in case of new AIIMS and many upgraded institut under  Pradhan  Mantri  Swasthya Suraksha  Yojana  (PMSSY). Setting  up  of  National  Cancer Institute  at  Jhajjar  in  Haryana  and second  campus  of Chittaranjan  Natio nal  Cancer  Institute, Kolkata are also steps in the same direction . Treatment of various cancers is also available under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). The Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) , through the Department of Atomic Energy has also taken initiative to address the problem of cancer, which includes: erent parts of the country functioning at par with  TMC,  Mumbai.  These  are  located  in  Varanasi  (two  centres),  Guwahati,  Sangrur Vishakapatnam and Mullanpur. These centres would cater to a large number of patients w y. The two campuses in Mumbai (Parel and Navi Mumbai)

(i) Setting up of six other cancer centres in diff cancer in all four zones of the countr are also undergoing expansion in capacity.

(ii) TMC has established the National Cancer Grid, which is a network of 193 cancer cent research institutions, patient groups, professional societi es in the country with the mandate of creating uniform standards of cancer care in India.

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