Lok Sabha Question No. 2054 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-30
Subject: Oral Cancer
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, T.R.V.S. Ramesh, Sanjeev Kumar Singari, Chandra Sekhar Bellana, Beesetti  Venkata Satyavathi, M V V Satyanarayana

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2054 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 th JULY, 2021

## ORAL CANCER

2054. SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

SHRI T.R.V.S. RAMESH:

DR. SANJEEV KUMAR SINGARI:

SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA:

DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI:

SHRI. M.V.V. SATYANARAYANA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of a study publis hed by the Tata Memorial Centre under the aegis of Department of Atomic Energy regarding Cost of Illness and Treat of Oral Cancer in India;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government is taking any steps to disseminate information about the increasing risks of oral cancer; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) and (b) Tata Memorial Centre under aegis of Department of Atomic Energy has published a study, 'A Prospective study to determine the cost of illness for Oral Cancer in India'. This study found  that  the  unit  cost  of  treating  oral  cancer  advanced  stages  was  found  to  be  42 greater than early stages. Medical equipment accounted for 97.8 percent of capital costs, with highest contributor being the radiology services that included CT, MRI and PET scan. Var costs that included consumables for surgery in advanced stages were 1.4 times hig her than in early stages. With the addition of additional chemo and radiotherapy to surgery, the aver of treatment increased by 44.6 percent. About 60 -80 percent of the cases of oral cancer visit thei specialist oncologists at advanced stages

(c)and (d) Health is a state subject. The Department of Health & Family Welfare, however, providing technical and financial support to the States/UTs under the National Programm Prevention  and  Control  of  Cancer,  Diabetes,  Cardiovascular  Diseases  and Stroke  (NPCDCS) including  Oral  Cancer,  as  part  of  National  Health  Mission  (NHM),  based  on  the  propos received  from  the  States/UTs.  The  support  is  inter  alia  provided  for  health  promot awareness generation for Cancer, including Oral Cancer, with foc us on risk factors and methods of prevention.

A population level initiative for prevention, control and screening for common cancers vi breast and cervical cancer, has been rolled out in over 697 districts of the country under a part of Comprehensive Primary Healthcare. Under the initi ative persons more than 30 years of age are targeted for their screening for common NCDs. Screening of oral cancer is an in part of service delivery under Ayushman Bharat -Health and Wellness Centres. The process of conducting Population Based Scree ning for oral cancer also spreads awareness in the community about the importance of maintenance of healthy lifestyles and avoidance of Oral Cancer factors, such as the use of tobacco.

The  National  Tobacco  Control  Programme  (NTCP),  under  the  aegis  o f  NHM,  also  generates awareness  through  extensive  IEC  activities  about  tobacco  consumption  being  a  serious factor for Oral Cancer.