Lok Sabha Question No. 912 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Cost of Treatment of Cancer
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Byreddy Shabari

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 912 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26 th July, 2024

## COST OF TREATMENT OF CANCER

## 912. Dr BYREDDY SHABARI

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

- (a) whether cancer levels are increasing across the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to establish district level cancer hospitals across the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken note of increasing cost of biopsy procedure and treatment of cancer and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the steps and measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to bring the cost of treatment for cancer down to affordable levels; and
- (e) whether the national level cancer registry is maintained by the Government and if so, the details thereof and the measures taken to ensure periodic diagnosis?

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

- (a): As per the Indian Council of Medical Research's National Cancer Registry Programme, the estimated incidence of cancer cases reported in India during the last three years is as below:
- (b): 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), as part of National Health Mission

| Estimated incidence of cancer cases (2022-2024)   | Estimated incidence of cancer cases (2022-2024)   | Estimated incidence of cancer cases (2022-2024)   | Estimated incidence of cancer cases (2022-2024)   |
|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| Year                                              | 2022                                              | 2023                                              | 2024                                              |
| Estimated Incidence(new) of cancer Cases          | 14,61,427                                         | 14,96,972                                         | 15,33,055                                         |

(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 Cancer prevention, early diagnosis, management and referral to an appropriate level of healthcare facility for treatment of the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including Cancer. Under the programme, NCD Clinics at District and Community Health Centres (CHC) levels provide services for NCDs inlcuding three common Cancers. Day Care Centers are set up in identified districts for providing facilities for Cancer Chemotherapy. Under NP-NCD, 753 District NCD Clinics, 356 District Day Care Centres, and 6238 Community Health Center NCD Clinics have been set up.

- (c) & (d) : To facilitate accessible and affordable healthcare for diagnosis and treatment of Cancer, the following steps have been taken:
- i. Diagnosis and treatment of NCDs including cancer is available at various levels in the health care delivery system including District Hospitals, Medical Colleges, Central Institute like AIIMS, Central Government Hospitals and private sector hospitals. The treatment in Government Hospitals is either free or highly subsidized for the poor and needy.

ii. The Department of Pharmaceuticals has informed that the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) under the Department of Pharmaceuticals fixes the ceiling price of the scheduled medicines specified in the Schedule-I of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO, 2013). NPPA has fixed ceiling prices of 131 anti-cancer scheduled formulations included in Scheduled-I as per the provisions of DPCO, 2013. In addition, NPPA capped the Trade Margin of select 42 Anti-Cancer non-scheduled formulations, recommended by Expert Committee of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, as a pilot proof of concept under the 'Trade Margin Rationalization Approach' vide order SO 1041(E) dated 27th February 2019.

iii. With an objective of making quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all citizens, especially the poor and the deprived ones, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana' (PMBJP) Scheme was launched to set up dedicated outlets known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) to provide quality generic medicines at affordable prices. As on 30th June, 12,616 PMBJKs have been opened in the country. Under PMBJP, 2047 types of medicines and 300 surgical devices have been brought under the basket of the scheme of which 83 products are for cancer treatment. Presently, 61 products are available for sale through selected Jan Aushadhi Kendras.

iv. Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT), an initiative launched by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare aims to provide affordable medicines for treatment of cancer, cardiovascular and other diseases. As on 15.06.2024 there are 206 AMRIT Pharmacies spread across 29 States/Union Territories, selling more than 5,200 drugs

(including cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, stents, etc), implants, surgical disposables and other consumables at a significant discounts upto 50% on market rates, based on authentic prescriptions from doctors not only from the institutions where they are located but even to those patients availing treatment at other hospitals.

v. Under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary or tertiary care hospitalization to over 55 Crores beneficiaries is provided.

(e): The National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) under ICMR has been in existence since 1982 and is now under the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR) since 2011. NCRP functions through Population and Hospital Based Cancer Registries (PBCR and HBCR) across different States in India. As of now, there are 38 PBCRs. 215 HBCRs have been registered under NCDIR -NCRP.