Question : CANCER TREATMENT

(a) the present status of implementation of OncoNET project to provide telemedicine services in cancer treatment in the country along with the funds earmarked, allocated and utilised for the aforesaid project;

(b) whether the Government has undertaken any study to ascertain the effectiveness of the said project, and if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(c) whether the Government has received any request to include certain cancer medicines in the National List of Essential Medicines;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) whether regular screening of chemotherapy and radiation for treatment of cancer is harmful and has toxic effects, and if so, the details thereof along with the steps being taken by the Government to spread awareness in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

(a): Under OncoNet project, two telemedicine centres each were set up in the State / UT of Karnataka, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and J&K. Funds of Rs.1.43 cr. were released on 5th March, 2008 by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to National Informatics Centre Services Inc. (a Government of India Enterprise under NIC), Ministry of Communications & Information Technology for setting up and operation of OncoNet centres. As per statement of Expenditure (SoE) dated 23th March, 2014, funds have been utilized.

(b): No such study has been undertaken.

(c) & (d): The list of medicines specified in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) which are included in the First Schedule of Drug Pricing Control Order (DPCO), 2013 also contain drugs used for the treatment of cancer. 489 NLEM medicines for which ceiling price have been notified under DPCO, 2013, includes 47 anti-cancer medicines.

(e): The said therapies can have side effects. Hence, dosing, fractions etc. of treatment are to be decided by treating doctor in the larger interest of the patient.

Standard Treatment Guidelines have been made for Oncology under the Clinical Establishment Act. The guidelines are placed on website, http://clinicalestablishments.nic.in/ WriteReadData/329.pdf.