Lok Sabha Question No. 3746 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-11
Subject: Cost of Cancer Diagnostic Procedures
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Goddeti Madhavi

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3746 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 th AUGUST, 2023

## COST OFCANCER DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES

## 3746. SHRIMATI GODDETI MADHAVI:

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

- (a) the average cost of cancer diagnostic procedures in the country;
- (b) whether it is a fact that people often have to rely on private hospitals due to lack of diagnostic facilities in public hospitals and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has considered capping the diagnostic testing charges; 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 (PROF. SATYA PAL SINGH BAGHEL)

(a): There is no such data maintained centrally.

(b): The Department of Health & Family Welfare, provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), 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 NP-NCD. The programme focusses on strengthening infrastructure, human resource development, health promotion & awareness generation for 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. 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.

National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar (Haryana) and second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata have also been setup. 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).

(c) and (d): Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides diagnostics and treatment corresponding to a total of 1,949 procedures under 27 different specialties including oncology. With respect to capping of diagnostic testing charges, AB PM-JAY has defined diagnostic prices based on CGHS non NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) rate, which is subject to revision and rationalization over time. Flexibility is provided to States/UTs to add State specific packages over and above national Health Benefit Package master. In addition, flexibility is provided to States/UTs to change the cost of the package as per the local requirement.

All Empanelled Health Care Providers (EHCPs), including corporate hospitals, are paid based on specified packages with standardized rates under ' Health Benefit Package (HBP) ' .