Lok Sabha Question No. 3158 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-09
Subject: Cases of Lung Cancer
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri V K Sreekandan

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3158 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 th AUGUST, 2024

## CASES OF LUNG CANCER

## 3158 SHRI V K SREEKANDAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has no evidence based guidelines with respect of prevention, screening, diagnosis, management and palliation of lung cancer in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) proposes to launch a systematic review and meta analyses which may play a crucial role in synthesising existing evidence and in decision making in the management of lung cancer guiding clinical practice and improving the health condition of the patient in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the ICMR has sought an expression of interest from researchers who are interested in conducting systematic reviews and meta analyses in the country, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether lung cancer is one of the commonest cancers in India accounting for 10 percent of total cancer deaths in the country, if so, the details thereof?

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

(a): The Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) including cancer.

ICMR has published 'Standard Treatment Workflow: Oncology' in 2022 for treatment/management of lung cancer in the country.

Preventive aspect of Cancer is strengthened under Comprehensive Primary Health Care through Ayushman Arogya Mandir by promotion of wellness activities and targeted communication at the community level. Other initiatives for increasing public awareness by using print, electronic & social media and for promotion of healthy lifestyle include observation of National Cancer Awareness Day, World Cancer Day.

The Central Government implements Strengthening of Tertiary Care Cancer Facilities Scheme under NP-NCD. 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. All new AIIMS and upgraded existing Government Medical Colleges/Institutions under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY) also focus on treatment of cancer.

(b) & (c): The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has launched an expression of interest (EOI) from researchers for systematic review and meta-analyses which will play a crucial role in synthesizing existing evidence to inform decision making in the management of lung cancer to guide clinical practice and improve patient outcomes. The EOI also envisions generating evidence on questions pertaining to lung cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, management and palliation. A total of 28 out of 100 applications were selected.

(d): As per the ICMR - National Cancer Registry Program Data (NCRP), lung cancer is one of the commonest cancers in India and it accounts for 10.5% of total cancer deaths in the country.

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