Lok Sabha Question No. 5684 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: High Cases of Cancer in North Eastern Region
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Joyanta Basumatary

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5684 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH APRIL, 2025

## HIGH CASES OF CANCER IN NORTH EASTERN REGION

## 5684. SHRI JOYANTABASUMATARY:

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

- (a) whether the Government has taken cognizance of high burden of cancer cases on the North Eastern region and if so, the details thereof including the region's percent share of total cases in the country during the last five years, year-wise;
- (b) the total number of cases, gender distribution and types of cancers prevalent in the country, State/UT-wise, especially in North Eastern States;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any study to assess the reasons for high prevalence of cancer in the North Eastern region and if so, the details of the outcomes of the study along with the measures being taken to address the causes;
- (d) whether any steps has been taken towards prevention and early detection of cancer in the North Eastern region and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has taken any steps/proposes to take steps to make quality treatment of affordable and accessible to cancer patients in the North Eastern region and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV)

- (a) to (c): As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) - National Cancer Registry Programme (ICMR-NCRP) Data, under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the estimated number of incidences of cancer cases in the North Eastern region is given below:

| Estimated Incidence of cancer cases in North East Region of India - All sites (2019-2022) - Both genders   |   Estimated Incidence of cancer cases in North East Region of India - All sites (2019-2022) - Both genders |   Estimated Incidence of cancer cases in North East Region of India - All sites (2019-2022) - Both genders |   Estimated Incidence of cancer cases in North East Region of India - All sites (2019-2022) - Both genders |   Estimated Incidence of cancer cases in North East Region of India - All sites (2019-2022) - Both genders |   Estimated Incidence of cancer cases in North East Region of India - All sites (2019-2022) - Both genders |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Region                                                                                                     |                                                                                                       2018 |                                                                                                       2019 |                                                                                                       2020 |                                                                                                       2021 |                                                                                                       2022 |
| North East                                                                                                 |                                                                                                      47881 |                                                                                                      49067 |                                                                                                      50317 |                                                                                                      51675 |                                                                                                      53046 |

The North - East Region of India accounts for 3.6% of the total incidence of cases in the country during the last five years. As per the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research NCRP, the estimated Incidence of cancer cases in India in different States/Union Territories is enclosed as Annexure-I. Details of leading site of cancers in Nother Eastern States is enclosed as Annexure-II

Under the CaRes NER multidisciplinary programme, implemented by ICMR-NCDIR, a monitoring survey of cancer risk factors and health system response in the Northeast Region of India: The study aimed to generate key cancer and other NCD related risk factors and health system response indicators in 12 Population Based Cancer Registries in 8 states of North East India in a study sample of 23,040 adults over 18 years. The results are availableon:

https://ncdirindia.org/All\_Reports/NE\_Report\_2022/Default.aspx.

(d) & (e) In order to detect and control major Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including cancer, the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) was launched by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in 2010 with focus on strengthening infrastructure, human resource development, health promotion, early diagnosis, management and referral to an appropriate level of healthcare facilities. Under the programme, 115 District NCD Clinics and 326 Community Health Centre NCD Clinics have been set up across North-eastern States of India.

A population-based initiative for screening, management and prevention of Non Communicable Diseases, including breast cancer has been rolled out through public health facilities.

The treatment in Government Hospitals is either free or highly subsidized for the poor and needy. There are various schemes of Government of India to facilitate accessible and affordable healthcare and treatment, which include establishment of State Cancer Institute in Assam and Tertiary Cancer Care Centres in Tripura and Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim, National Free Drugs Service initiative and Free Diagnostic Service, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT).

Under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri - Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), cancer-related treatment is provided for medical, surgical and radiation oncology across 219 packages.

Further, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has fixed the ceiling prices of 131 anti-cancer scheduled formulations. NPPA has also fixed retail price of 28 anti-cancer formulations. Recently, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance has reduced the customs duty to Nil and GST rates from 12% to 5% for three anti-cancer drugs.

****

## Estimated Incidence of cancer cases in India by different State/UT - ALL TYPES OF CANCER SITES - (2024)

| State             |   Males |   Females |
|-------------------|---------|-----------|
| Jammu &Kashmir UT |    7150 |      6962 |
| Ladakh UT         |     176 |       142 |
| Himachal pradesh  |    4582 |      4984 |
| Punjab            |   19610 |     22678 |
| Chandigarh        |     576 |       576 |
| Uttaranchal       |    6078 |      6564 |
| Haryana           |   15847 |     16666 |
| Delhi             |   14228 |     14159 |
| Rajasthan         |   37815 |     40789 |
| Uttar pradesh     |  111096 |    109904 |
| Bihar             |   59491 |     55632 |
| Sikkim            |     275 |       286 |
| Arunachal pradesh |     582 |       561 |
| Nagaland          |    1103 |       832 |
| Manipur           |    1004 |      1246 |
| Mizoram           |    1101 |      1013 |
| Tripura           |    1632 |      1239 |
| Meghalaya         |    1994 |      1174 |
| Assam             |   22575 |     19138 |
| West bengal       |   58844 |     60066 |
| Jharkhand         |   18568 |     19256 |
| Orissa            |   27397 |     27938 |
| Chattisgarh       |   14605 |     16158 |
| Madhya pradesh    |   42069 |     44055 |
| Gujarat           |   37132 |     40073 |

| Daman                    |     99 |     74 |
|--------------------------|--------|--------|
| Dadra &Nagar Haveli      |    143 |    125 |
| Maharashtra              |  60318 |  67194 |
| Telangana                |  24301 |  28033 |
| Andhra pradesh           |  35616 |  41092 |
| Karnataka                |  44630 |  50202 |
| Goa                      |    807 |    976 |
| Lakshadweep              |     12 |     20 |
| Kerala                   |  30006 |  31169 |
| Tamil nadu               |  43697 |  54689 |
| Pondicherry              |    815 |   1008 |
| Andaman &Nicobar Islands |    203 |    205 |
| Total                    | 746177 | 786878 |

Ref: National Cancer Registry Programme report, 2020

## Leading sites of cancer cases in North East India (2012-2016)

| PBCR                               | MALE LeadingSites(Rank)   | MALE LeadingSites(Rank)   | MALE LeadingSites(Rank)   | FEMALE LeadingSites(Rank)   | FEMALE LeadingSites(Rank)   | FEMALE LeadingSites(Rank)   |
|------------------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| PBCR                               | 1                         | 2                         | 3                         | 1                           | 2                           | 3                           |
| Manipur State                      | Lung                      | Stomach                   | Nasopharynx               | Breast                      | Lung                        | Cervix uteri                |
| Mizoram State                      | Stomach                   | Oesophagus                | Lung                      | Cervixuteri                 | Lung                        | Breast                      |
| Sikkim State                       | Stomach                   | Oesophagus                | Lung                      | Breast                      | Cervixuteri                 | Stomach                     |
| Tripura State                      | Lung                      | Oesophagus                | Larynx                    | Cervixuteri                 | Breast                      | Gall bladder                |
| West Arunacha l, Arunachal Pradesh | Stomach                   | Liver                     | Oesophagus                | Stomach                     | Breast                      | Cervix uteri                |
| Meghalaya                          | Oesophagus                | Hypopharynx               | Stomach                   | Oesophagus                  | Cervixuteri                 | Mouth                       |
| Nagaland                           | Nasopharynx               | Stomach                   | Oesophagus                | Cervixuteri                 | Breast                      | Stomach                     |
| Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh        | Stomach                   | Lung                      | Liver                     | Cervixuteri                 | Breast                      | Stomach                     |
| Cachar, Assam                      | Oesophagus                | Hypopharynx               | Lung                      | Cervixuteri                 | Breast                      | Gall bladder                |
| Dibrugarh, Assam                   | Oesophagus                | Hypopharynx               | Stomach                   | Breast                      | Gall bladder                | Ovary                       |
| Kamrup Urban, Assam                | Oesophagus                | Hypopharynx               | Lung                      | Breast                      | Oesophagu s                 | Gall bladder                |