Lok Sabha Question No. 73 (STARRED), answered on 2025-02-07
Subject: Early Diagnosis of Life Threatening Diseases
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Ram Shiromani Verma

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOKSABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 73 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 7 TH FEBRUARY, 2025

## EARLYDIAGNOSIS OF LIFE THREATENING DISEASES

## †*73. SHRI RAM SHIROMANI VERMA:

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

- (a) whether the Government has initiated any campaign to create awareness regarding precautionary measures for the early diagnosis of life threatening diseases like cancer by visiting villages for the prevention and treatment of the said diseases and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has formulated any policy for free of cost treatment of cancer patients in Government and Private Hospitals to save their lives and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the efforts being made by the Government to develop latest medical treatment system and promote research works for prevention and early diagnosis of life threatening diseases like cancer?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a) to (c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 73 FOR 7 TH FEBRUARY, 2025

(a) & (b) The Department of Health and Family Welfare, under National Health Mission (NHM), provides technical and financial support to States/UTs for the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). The program strengthens infrastructure, human resources, early diagnosis, referral, treatment, and health promotion for NCDs, including cancer. Under NP-NCD, 770 District NCD Clinics, 233 Cardiac Care Units, 372 District Day Care Centres, and 6,410 NCD clinics at CHCs have been set up.

Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) conduct risk assessments for individuals aged 30+ using the Community-Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC), referring high-risk cases for screening. A population-based initiative for screening, management, and prevention of NCDs, including cancer, is part of Comprehensive Primary Health Care under NHM. Prevention and screening services are delivered through ASHAs, Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM), Community Health Centres, and district hospitals, with training modules for health workers.

ASHAs play a key role in community awareness, promoting healthy lifestyles, and emphasizing early detection. Platforms like Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC)/ Mahila Aaarogya Samiti (MAS), Jan Aarogya Samiti (JAS), Self Help Groups (SHG) and local bodies enhance awareness efforts. The Anganwadi scheme educates pregnant and lactating women on nutrition.

Awareness initiatives include National Cancer Awareness Day, media campaigns, and NHM-funded activities (₹3-5 lakh at district level and ₹50-70 lakh at State level). NHM supports health infrastructure, human resources, free drugs, and diagnostics to improve healthcare accessibility.

Essential cancer drugs are available at district and sub-divisional hospitals. Government hospitals provide free or subsidized NCD treatment for the poor and needy. Under Ayushman Bharat -Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) health cover provision of ₹5 lakhs per family is made for 55 crore beneficiaries for secondary and tertiary care, including cancer treatment under 200+ packages. Recent approval extends PM-JAY coverage to all senior citizens (70+). The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme operates 14,320 Janaushadhi Kendras, offering 2,047 types of medicines and 300 surgical, medical consumables and devices, out of which 87 products are available for treatment of cancer. AMRIT pharmacies sell discounted cancer drugs, with 220 stores nationwide.

(c) The Central Government implements the Strengthening of Tertiary Cancer Care Centers Facilities Scheme in order to enhance the facilities for cancer care at tertiary level. Under this scheme, 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) which includes Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre, Cuttack and 20 Tertiary Cancer Care Centers (TCCCs) have been approved.

Cancer treatment facilities have been approved in all 22 new AIIMS with diagnostic, medical and surgical facilities.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI)at Jhajjar, Haryana, has been setup. It has 1,460 patient care beds and advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities. The second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata, has also been setup.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) conducts research on cancer through its institutes, various projects and cancer consortium in the areas of gall bladder cancer, breast cancer, lung cancers, cancers in North-east and oral cancers through its centrally sponsored research projects.

ICMR funds National Health Research Priority (NHRP) projects on breast and oral cancer screening and joint research with the National Cancer Grid. Additional fellowships, ad-hoc, and task force projects continue under ICMR's initiatives.

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