Lok Sabha Question No. 387 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-20
Subject: Role of Atomic Energy in Cancer Treatment
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: Shri Anoop Pradhan Valmiki, Shri Anurag Sharma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.  387

ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025

## ROLE OF ATOMIC ENERGY IN CANCER TREATMENT

## *387.    SHRI ANURAG SHARMA

## SHRI ANOOP PRADHAN VALMIKI

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:-

- (a) the  role  and  contribution  of  the  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  and  its  affiliated institutions in the national effort against cancer particularly in the areas of advanced treatment and research;
- (b) the details of achievements and advancements in treating complex cancer and the nature of the required inter-departmental collaboration;
- (c) the current status of domestic and international collaborations for cancer research within the DAE and the details of key outcomes of these partnerships particularly in Lok Sabha Constituencies of Dewas and Shajapur;
- (d) the  details  of  Government's  strategy  for  making  advanced  cancer  therapies  more accessible and affordable to the general public in the country particularly in the said constituencies:
- (e) whether  any  radiotherapy  or  isotope-based  cancer  treatment  facilities  have  been established or proposed to be established in Madhya Pradesh particularly in the said Constituencies and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the  details  of  the  effect  observed  by  Tarapur  Atomic  Energy  Plant  at  Palghar  in Maharashtra and efforts made against the diseases in the plant and township particularly against cancer and various facilities including emergency treatment in the area?

## ANSWER

THE  MINISTER  OF  STATE  FOR  PERSONNEL,  PUBLIC  GRIEVANCES  AND PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a)

- to (f)

A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (F) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.*387  FOR  REPLY  ON  20.08.2025  REGARDING 'ROLE OF ATOMIC ENERGY IN CANCER TREATMENT' ASKED BY SHRI ANURAG SHARMA AND SHRI ANOOP PRADHAN VALMIKI.

- (a) The Tata Memorial Hospital under the Department of Atomic Energy is providing comprehensive  evidence-based  cancer  treatment.    The  TMC  has  established  11 hospitals in 7 States of India which are located at Mumbai, Varanasi, Vizag, Sangrur, Mullanpur, Guwahati and Bhubaneshwar.  Out of 11 hospitals, 8 are functional and 3  are  under  construction.    Tata  Memorial  Centre  (TMC)  being  a  premier  cancer centre in the country, provides leadership in guiding the national/international policy and strategy for cancer care by-
-  Promoting outstanding services through evidence-based practice of oncology
-  Commitment of imparting education in cancer to students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public
-  Emphasizing on research that is affordable, innovative and relevant to the needs of the country.
- (b) There is a long list of achievements and advancements in treating complex cancer by TMC. Some of the achievements are highlighted below:
- i. National Facility for Hadron Beam Therapy at ACTREC
- ii. India's first homegrown CAR T-Cell therapy for cancer treatment
- iii. PREVALL - First  and  only  oral  suspension  of  Mercaptopurine  used  in  the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia developed by TMC, DAE.
- iv. Breakthrough Nutraceutical AKTOCYTE by the Department of Atomic Energy set to Transform Cancer Care
- v. TRANS-ARTERIAL  Radioembolisation  Using  Indigenously  Sourced  Y-  90 Microspheres ( BHABHASPHERES )
- vi. Largest Radiological Research Unit (Therapeutic Nuclear medicine unit)

- (c),(d) & (e)   The TMC has initiated and planned a strategy for making advanced cancer therapies more accessible and affordable to the general public in the country through National Cancer Grid (NCG).  At present 382 members / organizations are connected with NCG which is providing treatment to approximately 8,50,000 new cancer cases.  The NCG has potential of massive and far-reaching impact to cover the large number of general public in the country.

As far as Dewas and Shajapur constituencies is concerned, the people can utilize the facilities from the nearby following centres which are connected to NCG-TMC

| Bansal Hospital                                                    | Cancer Unit, Bansal Hospital, Shahapura, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh - 462016                                   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| BIMR Oncology Centre                                               | Surya Mandir Road, Near Sun Temple, Morar, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh 474005                                  |
| Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (RCC)                            | Cancer Hill Gwalior 474 009, Madhya Pradesh                                                                |
| Career Institute of Medical Sciences and Cancer Research Institute | Career College Campus, opp. Dusherra Maidan, Govindpura, (BHEL), Bhopal - 462023                           |
| Chirayu Medical College                                            | Bhainsakhedi, Near Bairagarh, Bhopal- Indore Highway, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462030                        |
| Indian Institute of Head & Neck Oncology                           | Cancer Foundation, Pigdambar Road, Rau, Near Indian Institute of Management, Indore, Madhya Pradesh 453331 |
| Padhar Hospital                                                    | P. O. Padhar, District Betul, Madhya Pradesh 460 005                                                       |
| Priyamvada Birla Cancer Research Institute                         | M. P. Birla Hospital, J. R. Birla Road, Post Birla Vikas, Satna 485005, Madhya Pradesh                     |
| Shalby Hospital (Indore Division)                                  | Part 5 & 6, Race Course Road, R S bhandari Marg, Janjeerwala Square, Indore-452003, Madhya Pradesh, India  |
| Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences                        | Indore - Ujjain State Highway, Near MR 10 Crossing, Indore, Madhya Pradesh 453555                          |
| SRJ CBCC Cancer Center                                             | 142, Phadnis Colony, A.B. Road, Near LIG Square, Indore, 452001                                            |
| Vidya Cancer Hospital                                              | Old High Ct Rd, near High Court, MainaWali Gali, Dal Bazaar, Lashkar, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh 474009       |

TMC  will  extend its  network  under hub  and  spoke  model  in  a  phased  manner through technical collaboration and assistance, which will cover many more constituencies in the future.

- (f) Epidemiological surveys for health assessment in respect of employees working in close proximity to radiation and their families at each of the operating nuclear power plants in India have been carried out by reputed local medical colleges in association with Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai, a premier cancer research centre in the country.    In  addition,  annual  medical  checkups  are  carried  out  for  occupational workers regularly. These studies/examinations have found that the morbidity pattern of all ailments is lower than the national average. There has also not been any rise in cancer morbidity, birth defects in the new born as compared to national average. All these studies and reports clearly establish that there are no adverse health impacts of the operation of the nuclear power plants on the people working in them.

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