Lok Sabha Question No. 4937 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-31
Subject: Increase in Cases of Cancer
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Sisir Kumar Adhikari

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4937 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 st  MARCH, 2023

## INCREASE IN CASES OF CANCER

## 4937. SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

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

- (a) whether India ranks third among nations in terms of the highest number of cancers with over 13 lakh people in India suffering from cancers every year, as per the national cancer registry programme report;
- (b) if so, whether the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) estimates that there will be a 12 percent rise in cancer cases in India by the next five years thereof;
- (c) State-wise details of people under treatment for cancer, upto age 15 years, 15-30 years, 30-50 years and above 50 years in the country therein;
- (d) the details of applications received by RAN Health Minister's Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) and sanctioned financial assistance since 2015 thereof;
- (e) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  support  free  cancer  treatment  to  all  patients  in  the country including medicines and food therein; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

- (a) to  (c)  :  As  per  Global  Cancer  Observatory,  IARC-WHO,  2020,  the  estimated  incidence  of cancer cases in India (13,24,413) accounts for the third highest number of cancer cases after China (45,68,754) and United States of America (22,81,658).

As per the NCDIR-National Cancer Registry Programme data, the estimated number of incidence of cancer cases in the country will see a 12.8% increase as per table given below:

| Table- Estimated Incidence cancer cases in India for all sites- ( 2020 and 2025)-Both Sexes   |   Table- Estimated Incidence cancer cases in India for all sites- ( 2020 and 2025)-Both Sexes |   Table- Estimated Incidence cancer cases in India for all sites- ( 2020 and 2025)-Both Sexes | Table- Estimated Incidence cancer cases in India for all sites- ( 2020 and 2025)-Both Sexes   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                                                          |                                                                                          2020 |                                                                                          2025 | Change                                                                                        |
| All sites of Cancer                                                                           |                                                                                       1392179 |                                                                                       1569793 | 12.8%                                                                                         |

Patients with Cancer are getting treatment at various health facilities in the health care delivery system including District Hospitals, Medical Colleges, Central Institutes like AIIMS and private sector  hospitals.  Relevant  data  related  to  patients  registered  for  treatment  is  maintained  by  the Institutions and Hospitals concerned at their own level.

- (d) The number of beneficiaries and funds utilized under the Health Minister's Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) component of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) since 2015 are as under:
- (e) & (f): The treatment in Government Hospitals is either free or highly subsidized for the poor and needy. 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.

| Year                       |   Funds utilized (Rs. In lakh) |   Number of beneficiaries |
|----------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 2015-16                    |                        2363.77 |                      5635 |
| 2016-17                    |                        2027.67 |                      3109 |
| 2017-18                    |                         865.95 |                      3934 |
| 2018-19                    |                         403.67 |                      1568 |
| 2019-20                    |                        2677.08 |                       470 |
| 2020-21                    |                        1573    |                       196 |
| 2021-22                    |                         585.05 |                        64 |
| 2022-23 (As on 28.03.2023) |                         368    |                        46 |

Financial assistance is  provided to  poor patients  belonging  to  families  living  below  poverty  line, suffering  from  major  life-threatening  diseases  including  cancer  under  Umbrella  scheme  of Rashtriya  Arogya  Nidhi  (RAN)  and  Health  Minister's  Discretionary  Grant  (HMDG).  Financial assistance  upto  a  maximum  of  Rs.  1,25,000/-  is  provided  under  HMDG  to  defray  a  part  of  the treatment cost and the maximum financial assistance provided under the Umbrella Scheme of RAN is Rs. 15 lakhs.

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.