Lok Sabha Question No. 2790 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-17
Subject: World Cancer Day
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Prataprao  Jadhav, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Shrirang Appa Barne, Sudheer Gupta, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2790 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 th  MARCH, 2023

## WORLD CANCER DAY

2790. SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV: SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK: SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA: SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

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

- (a) whether the Government has recently observed World Cancer Day in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to achieve the aims and objective of the event;
- (c) the details of programmes organized by the Government to mark this occasion;
- (d)  the  details  of  the  total  number  of  people  who  lost  their  life  due  to  this  dreaded  disease  in  the country during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (e) whether the Government is aware that most of the deaths reported due to cancer are from low or middle-class economies/countries due to limited resources in terms of medical/treatment facilities, lack of professionals and costly medicines for treatment; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard?

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

(a) to (c): World Cancer Day was celebrated by Central Health Education Bureau of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 4 th February 2023 in Amphi Theatre, Dilli Haat, INA. Furthermore, 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. 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. 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. 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 on the occasion of World Cancer Day as per their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).

(d)  to  (f):  As  per  the  Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research  -  National  Cancer  Registry  Programme (ICMR-NCRP),  the  estimated  number  of  mortality  due  to  cancer  cases  during  2020  to  2022  are provided below:

| Estimated Mortality of Cancer Cases in India for all sites (2020 and 2022)- both sexes   | Estimated Mortality of Cancer Cases in India for all sites (2020 and 2022)- both sexes   | Estimated Mortality of Cancer Cases in India for all sites (2020 and 2022)- both sexes   | Estimated Mortality of Cancer Cases in India for all sites (2020 and 2022)- both sexes   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                                                     | 2020                                                                                     | 2021                                                                                     | 2022                                                                                     |
| All sites of Cancer                                                                      | 7,70,230                                                                                 | 7,89,202                                                                                 | 8,08,558                                                                                 |

The Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, 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. Three most common  types  of  cancers  (oral  cancer,  breast  cancer  and  cervical  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, 708 District NCD Clinics, 301 District Day Care Centres, and 5671 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.

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.  Fifteen facilities are functional so far.

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.

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-àvis the Maximum Retail Price.

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