Lok Sabha Question No. 976 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-03
Subject: Rising Cancer Cases in North-East Region
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Nusrat Jahan Ruhi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 976 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 rd  DECEMBER, 2021

## Rising Cancer Cases in North-East Region

## 976. SHRIMATI NUSRAT JAHAN RUHI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  of  rising  cancer  cases  in  North-Eastern parts/region of the country;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  the action taken/proposed to be 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)  and  (b):  As  per  ICMR's  cancer  registry  data  on  "National  Cancer  Registry  Programme Report, 2020", the higher Age Adjusted Incidence Rates (AAR) are seen in North-Eastern zone of Aizawl District from Mizoram State, Papumpare District from Arunachal Pradesh, East Khasi Hills District from Meghalaya State and Kamrup Urban from Assam State.

(c) 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.

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 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).

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. Out of which, five institutes in North - East are approved and at different stages of development.

1. Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, Assam (SCI)
2. State Cancer Institute, Aizwal, Mizoram (TCCC)
3. District Hospital, Kohima, Nagaland (TCCC)
4. Multispecialty Hospital at Sochygang, Sikkim (TCCC)
5. Cancer Hospital, Agartala, Tripura (SCI)

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.