ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)
(a) & (b): The National Cancer Awareness day is observed on 7th November while World Cancer Day is observed on 4th February every year. Health is a state subject and the activities are carried out by State Governments for awareness of Cancer prevention and control. The list of activities carried out by State Governments is not maintained centrally.
Cancer is diagnosed using various diagnostic modalities. The treatment involves surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and palliative care. There are various modalities (specialties) involved in which there are new methods and innovation which is developed through research. The list of such innovations is not maintained centrally. The concerned State Governments and Institutions are expected to use the innovation after the efficacy and safety of such innovation are established and regulatory approval are in place.
(c): There is no such plan to make the cancer test compulsory to all the citizens of the country. However, Screening guidelines for breast, cervical and oral Cancer have been circulated to all the State Governments for implementation under the National Programme for prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS).
(d): The Government is providing financial assistance to patients living below poverty line for life threatening diseases under the schemes Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF), State Illness Assistance Fund (SIAF) and Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant (HMDG). The details are given as under:
I. Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi has been set up to provide financial assistance to patients, living below poverty line who are suffering from major life threatening diseases, to receive medical treatment at any of the super specialty Government hospital/ institute. Revolving Funds have been set up in 13 Central Government Hospitals/Institutes and funds upto Rs. 50 lakhs are placed at their disposal for providing treatment upto Rs. 2 lakh in each case. Cases involving treatment beyond 2 lakh are referred to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India for providing funds. The details of funds utilized during 2016-17 under the scheme is at Annexure-I
II. All State Governments/UT Administrations have been advised to set up an Illness Assistance Fund in respective States/UTs. It has been decided that grant-in-aid from Central Government would be released to each of these States/UTs (with Legislature) where such Funds are set up. The Grant-in-aid to States/UTs would be to the extent of 50% of the contributions made by the State Governments/UTs to the State Fund/Society subject to a maximum of Rs. 5 crore to States with higher percentage of population below poverty line and Rs. 2 crore for smaller States. The Illness Assistance Fund at the State/UT level can release financial assistance to patients living in their respective States/UT up to Rs. 1.50 lakh in an individual case and forward all such cases to Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi Headquarters, where the quantum of financial assistance is likely to exceed Rs. 1.50 lakh. The details of funds utilized under the scheme is at Annexure-II.
III. Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) has been set up to provide financial assistance to the poor patients suffering from cancer. A Corpus Fund of Rs. 100 crore has been set up, which has been placed in fixed deposit. Interest accrued thereon is utilized to provide the financial assistance. The details of funds utilized under the scheme is at Annexure-III.
IV. Financial assistance towards treatment for cancer is provided to the patients having treatment in 27 Regional Cancer Centres (RCC), as per guidelines. Revolving Funds have been set up in 27 RCCs and funds upto 50 lakhs are placed at their disposal for providing treatment upto Rs. 2 lakh in each case. Cases involving treatment beyond 2 lakh are referred to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
V. Under the scheme Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant (HMDG), patients having annual family income of less than Rs. 1,25,000/- are provided financial assistance upto Rs. 1,25,000/- as per guidelines of the scheme to defray a part of expenditure on hospitalization/treatment. The details of funds utilized under above schemes State/UT wise is at Annexure-IV.
(e): Government of India is implementing a scheme for enhancing the tertiary care facilities for Cancer in the country. Under the said scheme, Government of India is assisting to set up/establish 20 State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and 50 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) in different parts of the country.
In addition to Cancer diagnosis and treatment by the State Governments Health Institutes, the Central Government Institutions such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdurjung Hospital, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, etc. provide facilities for diagnosis and treatment of Cancer. Setting up of National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar, Haryana and 2nd Campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata has also been approved.
Oncology in its various aspects has focus in case of new AIIMS and many upgraded institutions under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY).
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