Lok Sabha Question No. 372 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-03
Subject: Cases of Breast Cancer
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Vellalath Kochukrishnan Nair. Sreekandan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 372 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 rd  FEBRUARY, 2023

## CASES OF BREAST CANCER

## 372.   SHRI V.K. SREEKANDAN:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that 100.5 out of 1,00,000 women are being diagnosed with breast cancer in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is also a fact that the cases of breast cancer can go up to 2,50,000 by 2030 from the present number of approximately 1,82,000;
- (c) whether the Government considers breast cancer a matter of national concern or extreme urgency; and
- (d) 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): As per the Indian Council of Medical Research's National Cancer Registry Programme Report, 2020, the estimated incidence rate of breast cancer is 29.9 per 1,00,000 in the country.
- (b): As per the Indian Council of Medical Research - National Cancer Registry Programme (ICMR-NCRP), the estimated number of incidence of breast cancer cases in the country can go up to 2,62,656 in 2030 from present incidence of 2,16,108 in 2022.

(c)  and  (d):    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.

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. Seven facilities are completed 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-à-vis the Maximum Retail Price.