Lok Sabha Question No. 1001 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-03
Subject: Increasing Cancer Cases
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Nihal Chand Chauhan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1001 TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 rd  DECEMBER, 2021

## INCREASING CANCER CASES

## 1001.   SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY: SHRI NIHAL CHAND:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken note that there has been an increase of 300 percent in the  reporting  of  cancer  cases  in  the  country  over  2018  and  an  increase  of  150  percent  in Rajasthan,  as  per  the  National  Health  Profile  2019,  if  so,  the  reaction  of  the  Government thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any assessment/survey regarding the number of cancer cases in the country, if so, the details and the outcome thereof;
- (c) the details of the most prevalent forms of cancer in the country along with the number of registered cases and deaths due to each type of cancer;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  identified  any  major  factors  that  have  contributed  to  the increase in cancer cases, if so, details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to curb the increased risk of cancer of different types, particularly  lung  cancer  and  breast  cancer  and  make  cancer  treatment  more  affordable  for citizens?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  and  (b):  As  per  the  Indian  Council  of  Medical  Research's  (ICMR)  report  on  "National Cancer  Registry  Programme  Report,  2020",  the  estimated  number  of  incidence  of  cancer cases reported in the country for last three years are given below,

| Estimated incidence of cancer cases (2018-2020) - Both Sexes        |   Estimated incidence of cancer cases (2018-2020) - Both Sexes |   Estimated incidence of cancer cases (2018-2020) - Both Sexes |   Estimated incidence of cancer cases (2018-2020) - Both Sexes |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                                                |                                                           2018 |                                                           2019 |                                                           2020 |
| Estimated Incidence of cancer cases in India - (ICD 10:C00-C97)     |                                                        1325232 |                                                        1358415 |                                                        1392179 |
| Estimated Incidence of cancer cases in Rajasthan - (ICD 10:C00-C97) |                                                          67380 |                                                          69156 |                                                          70987 |

The percent increase in the estimated incidence of cancer cases is 2.5% and 1.9% from the year 2018 to 2019 in the country and in Rajasthan respectively.

- (c) As per the ICMR's - National Cancer Registry Programme Report on "National Cancer Registry Program report, 2020', cancer of lung and breast are the most prevalent forms of cancer in the country in males and females respectively. The estimated number of incidence and mortality of cancer cases in year 2020 for cancer of lung (males) and breast (females) are given below.
- (d) Cancer is a multi-factorial disease, the risk factors of which, include ageing population, sedentary lifestyle, use of tobacco products, unhealthy diet and air pollution.
- (e) 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.

| Estimated cancer cases in India (2020)   | Estimated cancer cases in India (2020)   | Estimated cancer cases in India (2020)   |
|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Site                                     | Incidence                                | Mortality                                |
| Lung (male)                              | 71788                                    | 59514                                    |
| Breast (female)                          | 205424                                   | 76414                                    |

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.

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. 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.