Cancer treatment

As reported by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), as per National Centre for Disease Informatics & Research-National Cancer Registry Programme data, the estimated number of deaths due to Cancer in India for 2013-15 is as below:

The cost of treatment of Cancer depends on various factors including, inter alia, the stage of diagnosis, type and site of cancer, type of treatment etc. Cancer being a major cause of mortality and morbidity, the Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments in combating the disease. Some of the steps taken by Central Government are as follows:

(i)    The Government of India is implementing “Tertiary Care for Cancer” Scheme to assist to establish/set up State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) in different parts of the country. A sum of Rs. 478.40 crore has been released to 14 institutes during 2014-15 and 2015-16.

(ii)  Supporting Cancer care under new AIIMS and State Government Medical Colleges being upgraded under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY).

(iii)   Setting up of 2nd campus of Chittranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata.

(iv)    National Cancer Institute (NCI) as part of second campus of AIIMS, New Delhi.

(v)   To make available cancer medicines to patients at discounted prices, Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) outlet has been opened at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

(vi)   Advanced Radiotherapy Technology including Robotic Radio surgery equipment e.g. Cyberknife are eligible for financial assistance under “Strengthening of Tertiary Care of Cancer” scheme.

(vii)   Encouraging research institutions to develop newer cancer care equipments.

The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.

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