(a) whether diseases such as cervical and breast cancer specially in the women are on the rise in the country;
(b) if so, whether this is due to absence of any regular health checking/monitoring specially for weaker sections;
(c) whether the Government propose to engage various NGOs and utilise their services for such work; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI A. RAJA)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table of the Lok Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 554 FOR 25.4.2001
(a) & (b): Time trend analysis of data from population based cancer registries over the last decade shows a small but significant increase in the overall incidence of cancer in urban cancer registries, both amongst men and women. The ICMR registries have showed an increase in the incidence rate of breast cancer among women at Bangalore, Mumbai, Madras, Delhi and Bhopal between 1982 - 1994. The age-adjusted incidence rate of cancer of uterine cervix showed a decrease in Bangalore and Madras. However, the exact reasons for this change are not known.
(c) & (d): Under the National Cancer Control Programme, apart from recognition of one Regional Cancer Centre in each State, development of Oncology Wing in government medical colleges, grants for installation of tele-therapy units in government and charitable organizations and District Cancer Control Programmes, there is a scheme to provide financial assistance to NGOs for undertaking health education, early detection and prevention of cancer.