Lok Sabha Question No. 5695 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: Detection and Prevention of Cancer
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Darshan Singh Choudhary

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5695 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 th APRIL, 2025

## DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF CANCER

## 5695. SHRI DARSHAN SINGH CHOUDHARY:

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

- (a) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for detection and prevention of cancer at early stage;
- (b) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to provide timely treatment facilities to cancer patients in rural and backward areas;
- (c) the impact of the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana on improving access to cancer treatments;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to set up Cancer Care Centres in the areas having more number of cancer patients; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) &(b) The Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, provides technical and financial support to the States and Union Territories under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) as part of National Health Mission (NHM). Under the programme, 770 District NCD Clinics, 233 Cardiac Care Units, 372 District Day Care Centres and 6410 NCD clinics at Community Health Centre have been set up across the country.

A population-based initiative for screening, management and prevention of common NCDs including cancer have been rolled out as a part of comprehensive Primary Health Care in the country under National Health Mission (NHM) through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Screening of these common NCDs including oral, breast and cervical cancer is an integral part of 12 package of service delivery including rural and underserved area.

Under the Strengthening of Tertiary Cancer Care Facilities Scheme, 19 State Cancer Institutes and 20 Tertiary Cancer Care Centers have been set up in different parts of the country to provide advanced cancer care. Also, cancer treatment facilities have been approved in all 22 new AIIMS with diagnostic, medical and surgical facilities. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Jhajjar, with 1,460 patient care beds and advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities and the second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata, with 460 beds have been set up by the Government to provide super-specialty care.

(c) Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) provides for ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to approximately 55 crore beneficiaries corresponding to 12.37 crore families. Recently, AB PM-JAY extended health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 plus, regardless of income.The latest national master of the Health Benefit Package (HBP) of AB PM-JAY provides treatment corresponding to 1961 procedures across 27 specialties including treatment for cancer.

Under PMJAY more than 68 lakh cancer treatments worth over Rs 13,000 crore have been undertaken. As per centrally available data, 75.81% of these treatments were availed by beneficiaries from rural areas. With regard to targeted therapies for cancer care, more than 4.5 lakh treatments worth over ₹985 crore have been undertaken for targeted therapies of cancer care. Of these, 76.32% were availed by rural beneficiaries under PM-JAY.

(d) & (e) As per the announcement of Union Budget 2025-26, the government plans to set up Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) in consultation with States/Union Territories in district hospitals in the next 3 years, out of which 200 centres are proposed to be set up in 2025-26.

A comprehensive gap analysis has been undertaken to assess the availability of cancer care infrastructure, medical personnels, and essential equipments in district hospitals. Based on the findings, the Ministry, in consultation with State Governments, plans to establish DCCCs in districts with a high cancer burden and limited access to cancer care services. The selection of these districts will ensure robust referral linkages with State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and Tertiary Cancer Care Centers (TCCCs) to provide a seamless continuum of care.

***