Lok Sabha Question No. 1534 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-10
Subject: Rising Cases of Cervical Cancer
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil, Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Krishna Pal Singh Yadav, Rita Bahuguna Joshi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1534 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  FEBRUARY 2023

## RISING CASES OF CERVICAL CANCER

## 1534. SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

DR SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

DR SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

DR HEENA GAVIT:

DR KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV:

PROF RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI:

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

- (a) whether the Government maintains data on the number of women suffering from or are prone to cervical cancer and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to disseminate information and awareness about cervical cancer in rural areas;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to roll out cervical cancer vaccines in phased manner, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to launch awareness programmes to reduce vaccine hesistancy among people; and
- (e) 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 cervical cancer cases in the country is 79,103 in 2022.
- (b): 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) are 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.

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).

(c) to (e): The National Technical Advisory Group for Immunization (NTAGI) has recommended the introduction  of  Human  Papilloma  Virus  (HPV)  vaccine  for  prevention  of  cervical  cancer  under  the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).

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