Lok Sabha Question No. 4983 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-31
Subject: Cancer Care Facilities
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ashok Kumar Yadav

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4983 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 ST  March, 2023

## CANCER CARE FACILITIES

## 4983. SHRI ASHOK KUMAR YADAV:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the problems being faced by patients in absence of adequate facilities for cancer treatment in Bihar;
- (b) if so, the initiative being taken to address the said problems;
- (c) whether any proposal from the State for providing cancer scanning machines for early diagnosis of cancer has been received;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to extend financial assistance to the State Government of Bihar for the said purpose; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## ANSWER (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (f): 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.

Action taken by Government in respect of affordable healthcare for Cancer:

1. 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. Indira Gandhi Institute Medical Sciences, Patna was approved as SCI and is fully functional.
2. There is  also  focus  on  Oncology  in  its  various  aspects  in  case  of  new  AIIMS  and  many Institutions  approved  for  upgradation  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Swasthya  Suraksha  Yojna (PMSSY). AIIMS at Patna is fully functional for cancer services.
3. Homi  Bhabha  Cancer  Hospital  and  Research  Centre,  Muzaffarpur  is  providing  Cancer Screening services in all 38 districts.

The Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India provides technical and financial support  to  the  States/UTs  to  implement  the  National  Programme  for  Prevention  and  Control  of Cancer,  Diabetes,  Cardiovascular  Diseases  and  Stroke  (NPCDCS)  under  NHM.  The  programme includes the following,

- i. Strengthening infrastructure
- ii. Human resource development
- iii. Health promotion
- iv. Screening  of  30  years  and  above  population  under  Ayushman  Bharat  Health  Wellness Centre
- v. Early diagnosis and management
- vi. Referral to an appropriate level of healthcare facility

Financial assistance is provided to States/UTs in the ratio of 60:40 (Centre share: State Share). In addition, NPCDCS gives financial support under NHM for awareness generation (IEC) activities for NCDs  including  cancer  to  be  taken  up  by  the  States/UTs  as  per  their  Annual  Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).

Under NPCDCS, 38 District NCD Clinics, 6 District Cardiac Care Units, and 210 Community Health Center NCD Clinics has been set up in Bihar.

A population-based initiative for prevention, control and screening for common Non-Communicable 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  common  NCDs  including  cancer. Screening of these common NCDs is an integral part of service delivery under Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres.

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