Lok Sabha Question No. 5033 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-04-01
Subject: Study on Cancer Cases
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Kalyan Banerjee

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5033 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 ST  APRIL, 2022

## STUDY ON CANCER CASES

## 5033. SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:

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

(a) whether  the Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the study by a medical Journal that approximately 83,600 to 111,500 cancer patients may need more advanced care, due to the interruption in cancer services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to identify and confirm treatment of the large number of cancer patients;

(c) whether as per the said report India is likely to have over 1.31 lakh excess cancer related deaths over the coming five years, if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(d) the steps taken to enhance access to cancer patients for free treatment thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d): As per the Indian Council of Medical Research's Cancer Registry Data Report on 'National Cancer Registry Programme Report, 2020', the estimated number of incidence and mortality of cancer cases in the country for the year 2020 is 13.92 lakhs and 7.70 lakhs respectively.

Health is a state subject. The Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, 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 (NCDs), including Cancer.

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. Under NPCDCS, 682 District  NCD Clinics, 191 Cardiac Care Units, 264 District Day Care Centres and 5408 CHC NCD Clinics have been set up.

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 (AB-HWC).

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 under the said scheme. 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.

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.  Under  the  umbrella  scheme  of  Rashtrya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), financial assistance is provided to families living below threshold poverty line for their treatment, including treatment of Cancer in Government hospitals.

During the COVID -19 pandemic in order to ensure continuity of health care services Mobile Medical Units  were  utilized  for  delivery  of  services,  especially  follow  up  care  for  NCDs.  The  screening services were reorganized during the period of lockdown and beyond. Primary healthcare team at SubHealth Centre (SHC), including HWCs were encouraged to follow up with the specific sub-population groups such as patients undergoing planned procedures like cancer treatment.

States were instructed to ensure uninterrupted availability of cancer treatment services. State Health Department was advised to issue directives to the district administration allowing easy movement of these patients to access care. In case of patients, who could not afford private vehicles, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) vehicles could be used for facilitating transport of patients.

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