Lok Sabha Question No. 3411 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Breast Cancer
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Francisco Cosme Sardinha, Raksha Nikhil Khadse

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3411 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th  DECEMBER, 2021

## BREAST CANCER

## 3411.  SHRI COSME FRANCISCO CAITANO SARDINHA : SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognisance  of  the  predominance  of  Breast  Cancer affecting 25.8 per 10000 women in India with the mortality rate of 12.7 per 10000 women;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  measures  /  proposed  to  take  measures  for  early detection and treatment for Breast Cancer, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has taken measures to sensitise women in rural areas regarding the same; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) and (b): As per the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) cancer registry data on "National Cancer Registry Programme Report, 2020", the estimated incidence and mortality rate of breast cancer in the country for 2020 are given below.

| Site of cancer             |   Incidence Rate (per 1,00,000) |   Mortality Rate (per 1,00,000) |
|----------------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
| Cancer of Breast (Females) |                            29.9 |                            11.1 |

(c) to (e): Health is a state subject. The Department of Health & Family Welfare, however, provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), as  part  of  National  Health  Mission  (NHM),  based  on  the  proposals  received  from  the States/UTs and subject to the resource envelope. Cancer is an integral part of NPCDCS. The programme  focusses  on  strengthening  infrastructure,  human  resource  development,  health promotion & awareness generation for Cancer prevention, early diagnosis, management and referral to an appropriate level of healthcare facility for treatment of the Non-Communicable Diseases, including Cancer.

A  population-based  initiative  for  prevention,  control  and  screening  for  common  NonCommunicable 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  the  three  common  cancers  i.e  oral,  breast  and  cervical.  Screening  of  these  common cancers is an integral part of service delivery under Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres.

Under NPCDCS, 677 NCD clinics at District level, 266 District Day Care Centres and 5392 NCD clinics at Community Health Centre level has been set up to ensure the treatment of common NCDs.

The  Central  Government  is  also  implementing  Strengthening  of  Tertiary  Care  of  Cancer Scheme in order to enhance the facilities for tertiary care of cancer. 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCCs) have been approved so far under the said scheme.

There  is  also  focus  on  Oncology  in  its  various  aspects  in  case  of  new  AIIMS  and  many upgraded institutions under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY). Setting up of National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar (Haryana) and second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata are also steps in this direction. All these enhance the capacity for treatment of cancer in the country.

The treatment for in-patient care is also available under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan  Arogya  Yojana  (PMJAY)  for  10.74  crore  families  eligible  under  AB-PMJAY  as  per Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) database.

Preventive  aspect  of  Cancer  is  strengthened  under  Comprehensive  Primary  Health  Care through  Ayushman  Bharat  Health  Wellness  Centre  scheme,  by  promotion  of  wellness activities and targeted communication at the community level. Other initiatives for increasing public awareness about Cancer and for promotion of healthy lifestyle includes observation of National Cancer Awareness Day, World Cancer Day and use of print, electronic and social media  for  continued  community  awareness.  Furthermore,  healthy  eating  is  also  promoted through FSSAI. Fit India movement is implemented by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and  various  Yoga  related  activities  are  carried  out  by  Ministry  of  AYUSH.  In  addition, NPCDCS gives financial support under NHM for awareness generation (IEC) activities for Cancer  to  be  undertaken  by  the  States/UTs  as  per  their  Programme  Implementation  Plans (PIPs).