Question : Cervical Cancer

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether cases of cervical and breast cancer are rising in the country and cervical cancer accounts for 25 per cent of female cancer, if so, the details thereof indicating the number of cases reported during each of the last three years, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government has conducted any study/assessment in this regard, if so, the details and the outcome thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to make cancer check-up mandatory for women of certain age, if so, the details thereof and the steps including awareness campaigns taken/proposed for regular screening of such diseases including establishing National Screening Programme to ensure early detection and treatment;

(d) whether the Government proposes to introduce the Human Papilloma Virus DNA test at affordable cost and HPV vaccination in the National Immunisation Programme, if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether the Government proposes to offer free cancer treatment in all private and Government hospitals?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)
(a) & (b): As informed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the estimated number of incidence of cervical cancer accounts for 12.8 % of cancer among females in India for the year 2018. The estimated number of incidence of Breast and Cervical cancer for the country during 2016 to 2018 is given below:

Year 2016 2017 2018
Estimated Breast cancer cases 1,42,283 1,50,842 1,59,924
Estimated Cervical cancer cases 99,099 1,00,306 1,01,536

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State/UT wise details are at Annexure-I and II.

(c) & (d): Health is a State subject and the Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments in preventing and controlling cancer. The objectives of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), being implemented by Central Government under National Health Mission (NHM) for interventions upto the district level, includes awareness generation for cancer prevention, screening, early detection and referral to an appropriate level institution for treatment. For cancer the focus is on three cancers, namely breast, cervical and oral. A population level initiative for prevention, control and screening for common Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) i.e. diabetes, hypertension and common cancers viz. oral, breast and cervical cancer, has been rolled out in over 215 districts of the country under NHM, as a part of comprehensive primary healthcare. Under this initiative, persons more than 30 years of age are targeted for their screening for common NCDs. Screening of common NCDs including three common cancers i.e. oral, breast and cervical is also an integral part of service delivery under Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres. Under NPCDCS, Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) is used as the screening tool for cervical cancer.

(e): To tackle the challenge of NCDs, including cancers, 616 NCD Clinics at District level and 3,872 NCD Clinics at Community Health Centre level have been set up under NPCDCS. Under NHM, support is provided to States/UTs to provide free essential medicines and diagnostic services for primary and secondary health care needs.

To enhance the facilities for tertiary care of cancer, the Central Government is implementing Strengthening of Tertiary Care for Cancer Scheme, under which setting up of 19 State Cancer Institutes and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres have been approved. Further, Oncology is also one of the focus areas in case of new AIIMS and many upgraded institutions under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Setting up of National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar in Haryana and strengthening of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, are also steps in the same direction.

Cancer is diagnosed and treated at various levels in the health care system. In Government hospitals, treatment is either free or highly subsidized. Treatment of cancers is also available under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). Besides this, Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Deendayal outlets have been opened at 203 Institutions/Hospitals with an objective to make available drugs and implants at discounted prices to the patients. Under the umbrella scheme of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi, financial assistance is provided to families living below threshold poverty line for their treatment, including treatment of cancer, in Government hospitals.

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