Lok Sabha Question No. 433 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-03
Subject: Rising of Cancer Patients
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Nihal Chand Chauhan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 433 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 rd  FEBRUARY, 2023

## RISING OF CANCER PATIENTS

## 433.   SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any assessment has been made by the Government regarding the approximate number of cancer patients in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether the Government agrees with the report of National Health Profile 2019 according to which there has been an increase of 150 percent in cancer cases in Rajasthan itself during the last one year, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the comprehensive steps taken by the Union Government for the prevention and proper treatment of deadly diseases like cancer in the country; and
- (d)  whether  the  Union  Government is considering to set up hospitals including Cancer Research Institute in other bordering areas of Rajasthan including Sriganganagar and if so, the details thereof?

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

- (a): As per the Indian Council of Medical Research - National Cancer Registry Programme (ICMRNCRP), the estimated number of incidence of cancer cases in the country during 2020 to 2022  for last three years are given below,
- (b):  As  per  the  Indian  Council  of Medical Research's Cancer Registry Data Report on 'National Cancer Registry Programme Report, 2020', the percent increase in the estimated incidence of cancer cases is 1.9% from the year 2018 to 2019 in Rajasthan.
- (c) and (d): The Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, 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

| Estimated incidence of cancer cases (2020-2022) - Both Sexes    | Estimated incidence of cancer cases (2020-2022) - Both Sexes   | Estimated incidence of cancer cases (2020-2022) - Both Sexes   | Estimated incidence of cancer cases (2020-2022) - Both Sexes   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                            | 2020                                                           | 2021                                                           | 2022                                                           |
| Estimated Incidence of cancer cases in India - (ICD 10:C00-C97) | 13,92,179                                                      | 14,26,447                                                      | 14,61,427                                                      |

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  (NCDs),  including  Cancer.  Under  NPCDCS,  707 District  NCD Clinics, 268 District Day Care Centres, and 5541 Community Health Center NCD Clinics has been set up.

A population-based initiative for prevention, control and screening for common 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.

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  Food  Safety  and  Standards Authority of India (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 taken by the States/UTs as per their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).

The  Central  Government  implements  Strengthening  of  Tertiary  Cancer  Care  Centres  Facilities Scheme in order to enhance the facilities for tertiary care of cancer. 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and  20  Tertiary  Cancer  Care  Centres  (TCCCs)  have  been  approved  under  the  said  scheme.  In Rajasthan, one State Cancer Institute at SMS Medical College, Jaipur and two Tertiary Cancer Care Centres at S P Medical College, Bikaner and Jhalawar Medical College & Hospital are approved. One of the expected role of SCIs and TCCCs is to promote research on cancer.

There is also focus on Oncology in its various aspects in case of new AIIMS including AIIMS Jodhpur 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.

Cancer  is  diagnosed  and  treated  at  various  levels  in  the  health  care  facilities.  The  treatment  in Government  Hospitals  is  either  free  or  highly  subsidized  for  the  poor  and  needy.  Treatment  of Cancers is also available under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). Besides,  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 vis-à-vis the Maximum Retail Price.