Lok Sabha Question No. 4875 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-31
Subject: Cancer Care Facilities/Therapy Units
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: S. Ramalingam

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4875 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 st  March, 2023

## CANCER CARE FACILITIES/THERAPY UNITS

## 4875. SHRI RAMALINGAM S:

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

(a) the steps taken by the Government to establish the cancer care facilities/therapy units with an affordable price specifically for patients from rural backgrounds who are facing financial constraints and cultural barriers; (b) the steps taken by the Government to tackle the increasing burden of cancer cases in the country; (c) the steps taken by the Government for establishing a proton beam therapy and any other therapy unit for cancer patient specifically in any Government or Government aided hospital in the country; (d) the number of applications seeking financial assistance under the Health Minister's Cancer Patient Fund received and amount disbursed for the State of Tamil Nadu during the last five years; (e) the number of State Cancer Institute's (SCIs) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres approved in the State of Tamil Nadu under Strengthening of Tertiary Cancer Care Centres Facilities Scheme; and (f)  whether the above mentioned scheme is applicable to the Regional Cancer unit in Thanjavur Medical College, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a)  &  (b);  To  enhance  the  facilities  for  tertiary  care  of  cancer,  the  Government  of  India  is implementing 'Strengthening of Tertiary Care Cancer Facilities Scheme. Under the scheme, support is provided to States/UTs for setting up of State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCCs) in different parts of the country. The financial assistance is for procurement of radio therapy equipment, diagnostic equipment, surgical equipment, enhancement of indoor civil work and patient facility for cancer and such other purposes relevant for diagnosis, treatment and care of cancer. The maximum permissible assistance for SCI is Rs. 120 crores and for TCCC Rs. 45 crores. This is inclusive of State share of 40% (for North East and Hill States 10%). Upto a maximum of 30% of the sanctioned amount will be permitted to be used for civil/electrical work (including renovation), and improvement of infrastructure. Till date 39 institutions (19 State Cancer Institute and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centre) have been approved.

Further, Oncology is also one of the focus areas in case of new AIIMS and many upgraded institutions under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Setting up of National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar in Haryana and strengthening of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, are also steps in the direction of improving tertiary cancer care facilities. Besides cancer patients are also getting  treatment  at  various  health  facilities  in  the  health  care  delivery  system  including  District Hospitals,  Medical  Colleges,  Central  Government  hospitals,  and  private  sector  hospitals.  The treatment in Government Hospitals is either free or highly subsidized for the poor and needy.

A population-based initiative for prevention, control and screening for common Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) i.e., diabetes, hypertension and common cancers has been rolled out in the country under NHM and also as a part of Comprehensive Primary Health Care. Under the initiative, persons more than 30 years of age are targeted for their screening for common NCDs. Screening of these common NCDs including cancer is an integral part of service delivery under Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres.

The Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India provides technical and financial support  to  the  States/UTs  to  implement  the  National  Programme  for  Prevention  and  Control  of Cancer,  Diabetes,  Cardiovascular  Diseases  and  Stroke  (NPCDCS)  under  NHM.  The  programme includes the following,

- i. Strengthening infrastructure
- ii. Human resource development
- iii. Health promotion
- iv. Screening  of  30  years  and  above  population  under  Ayushman  Bharat  Health  Wellness Centre
- v. Early diagnosis and management
- vi. Referral to an appropriate level of healthcare facility

Under NPCDCS, 708 District NCD Clinics, 194 District Cardiac Care Units, 301 District Day Care Centres and 5671 Community Health Center NCD Clinics has been set up.

Under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary or tertiary care hospitalization to over 60 Crores beneficiaries identified from Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) database is provided. The treatment packages under AB-PMJAY are very comprehensive covering various treatment related aspects such as drugs and diagnostic services. Treatment of cancer is also available under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).

Quality  generic  medicines  are  made  available  at  affordable  prices  to  all,  under  Pradhan  Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) in collaboration with the State Governments. Affordable

Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacy stores have been set up in some hospitals/institutions, with an objective to make available Cancer drugs at a substantial discount visà-vis the Maximum Retail Price.

(c)  As  per  the  Atomic  Energy  Regulatory  Board  (AERB)  report,  presently  Apollo  Hospitals Enterprises Limited, Chennai has obtained license for operation for 230 MeV Proton Therapy facility in 2018 and another Proton Therapy Centre at Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research & Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Kharghar, Navi Mumbai (Government aided institution) is approved.

(d)   Financial assistance for eligible patients is released to the treating hospitals/institutions under Health Minister's Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF). There is no State/UT-wise allocation of funds under the Umbrella Scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN).  Therefore, State/UT-wise data is not maintained centrally. As per records maintained in the Ministry, the 26 number of patients has availed services worth Rs. 129.17 lakhs under HMCPF during the last five years (2018 - 2023) for the State of Tamil Nadu.

(e) & (f); Cancer Institute (RCC), Adyar, Chennai is approved as a State Cancer Institute in Tamil Nadu under Strengthening of Tertiary Care Cancer Facilities Scheme and is fully functional. There is only one institution covered under the said Scheme.

*******