Question : ONCONET-INDIA PROJECT FOR CANCER PATIENTS

(a) the number of hospitals having facilities for diagnosis, treatment and management of cancer patients in the country along with the steps taken/ proposed by the Government to open more number of such hospitals;

(b) the details of the proposals received from the State Governments in this regard along with the action taken/proposed thereon during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) the steps taken/proposed by the Government to connect the Government hospitals with the Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs) and also set up mobile cancer detecting units for early identification of cancer patients in the country;

(d) whether the Government is implementing/assisting Onconet-India project across the country; and

(e) if so, the details along with the objective thereof and the funds earmarked and allocated for the purpose, State/UTwise?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY)

(a): Cancer treatment is by Surgery, Radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and supportive care. Surgery, chemotherapy and supportive care are available in the health care delivery system upto district hospitals, government medical colleges besides premier apex institutions e.g. AIIMS, New Delhi, Post Graduate Institute Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh etc. However, Radiotherapy facilities are available only at about 300 institutions in the country.

The Government of India had also launched a comprehensive National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS) for remaining two years of the 11th Five Year Plan. The programme envisages implementation in 100 districts across 21 States.

The programme also envisages strengthening Government Medical College Hospitals and erstwhile Regional Cancer Centres (RCC) across the country as Tertiary Cancer Centre (TCC) for providing comprehensive Cancer care services. During the 12th Five Year Plan, it is proposed to establish National Cancer Institutes in the country and further strengthen the Government Medical College Hospitals and erstwhile Regional Cancer Centres (RCC) as TCCs for comprehensive Cancer care services subject to availability of resources.

(b): 49 proposals have been received from the States. Majority of them had deficiencies regarding requirements such as Manpower, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board’s Clearance, State Govt. recommendations / commitment to release 20/% of state share, Utilization Certificate of earlier released grant-in-aid etc. Out of these 49 proposals, 8 proposals were complete in all respects as per guidelines and funds were sanctioned to them.

(c) to (e): The ‘OncoNET’ project is implemented to provide tele-medicine services in cancer treatment, follow up consultation, early cancer detection and cancer awareness through the computer connectivity among the erstwhile Regional Cancer Centres and peripheral centres in India.

The Government has already released Rs. 13.63 lakh to the Director-General, C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram for preparing DPR in connection with OncoNET India Project and Rs. 1.43 crore to National Informatics Centre Services Inc.