Lok Sabha Question No. 2244 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-23
Subject: Cancer Patients
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Kanakmal Katara, Keshari Devi Patel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUE STION NO. 2244 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23 RD SEPTEMBER, 2020

## CANCER PATIENTS

## 2244. SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA : SHRIMATI KESHARI DEV I PATEL:

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

- (a) whether there has been increase in the number of cancer patients across the country if so,the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
- (b) whether nearly 1 300 deaths due to cancer are taking place everyday, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has ascertained the main cause of cancer, if so, the details ther of;
- (d) whether the emphasis has been laid on health educa tion to create awareness about cancer and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has made any assessment regarding the number of patients likely to be affected in the next 10 years and the preparations being made to deal with it?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): Information regarding estimated incidence of cancer cases and estimated mort cancer cases is based on the National Cancer Registry Pro ramme Report (NCRP) of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The latest report of NCRP is for the year 2020, which is based on data for the period 2012 - 16, as compared to earlier report of 2016, which was based on data for the period 2012 - 14. Also, the year 2020 report is based on an increased coverage i terms of more number of Population Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs) and expansion of som existing PBCRs .As a result of above changes, the annual figures of estimated incidence mortality o f cancer cases in the country have undergone revision as compared to previous re of NCRP of 2016 and the revised year - wise figures are as under:

| Year                                 | 2017      | 2018      | 2019      |
|--------------------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| Estimated incidence of cancer cases  | 12,92,534 | 13,25,232 | 13,58,415 |
| Estimated Mortalit y of cancer cases | 7,15,010  | 7,33,139  | 7,51,517  |

As per the ICMR's 'National Cancer Registry Programme Report, 2020', the projected number of incidence of cancer cases is 15.7 lakhs for the year 2025 in the country.

Cancer  is  a  multifactorial disease,  the  risk  factors  of  which  interalia,  include  use tobacco products, ageing population, sedentary life styles, unhealthy diet and obesity.

PublicHealth  and  Hospitals  is  a  State  subject.  The  Central  Government,  however supplements the efforts o f the State Governments in preventing and controlling cancer and i providing affordable and accessible care. The Government is implementing National Program for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDC wit h  focus  on  strengthening infrastructure, human resource development, health promotio awareness  generation,  early  diagnosis,  management  and  referral  to  an  appropriate institution for treatment.

To tackle the challenge of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD), including cancer, 637 NCD Clinics at District level and 4,472 NCD Clinics at Community Health Centre level h been set up under NPCDCS.  Government is also implementing Pop ulation level initiative for prevention,  control  and  screening  for  common NCDs  (diabetes,  hypertension  and  common cancers  viz.  oral,  breast  and  cervical  cancer). Screening  of  common  NCDs  including  three common cancers i.e. oral, breast and cervical is also an integral part of service deli Ayushman Bharat-Health and W ellness Centres. Awareness campaigns on common risk factors for NCDs, including cancer, and promotion of healthy lifestyle are carried out through el and social media. Camps for awareness generation and screening for common NCDs are als organizedat  Pragati  Maidan,  New  Delhi,  during  the  India  International  Trade  Fair.  ICM -National Institute of Cancer Prevention  and  Research  (NICPR), Noida, has  launch www.cancerindia.org with the theme 'India Against Cancer', a portal that provides information on the leading cancers in India with a major focus on awareness, prevention and treatm these  cancers. Several  measures  have  been  taken  to  discourage  the  use  of  tobacco  product which is one of the key risk fa ctors of Cancer, besides initiative to promote healthy lifesty through healthy eating and regular physical activity.

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 State  Cancer  Institutes  and  20  Tertiary  Care  Cancer  Centres  have  been  approved.  Fur ther, 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  strengthening  of  Chittaranjan  Nationa l  Cancer  Institute, Kolkata, are also steps in the same direction.

Cancer  is  diagnosed  and  treated  at  various  levels  in  the  health  care  syste Government hospitals, treatment is either free or highly subsidized. Treatment of cancers available under Ayushman Bharat -Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). Besides this, Affordable  Medicines  and  Reliable  Implants  for  Treatment  (AMRIT)  Deendayal  outlets  hav been  opened  at  210  Institutions/Hospitals  with  an  objective  to  make  available  Cancer d Cardiovascular  Disease  drugs  and  implants  at  discounted  prices  to  the  patients.  Unde umbrella scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), financial assistance is provided to fam living  below  threshold  poverty  line  for  their  treatment,  including  tre atment  of  cancer,  in Government hospitals.