Free Cancer Treatment Facilities

As per data provided by National Cancer Registry Programme of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the estimated incidence, prevalence and mortality due to cancer in the country for the last three years are given below:

	2011	2012	2013
Incidence	1028503	1057204	1086783
Prevalence	2819457	2820179	2934314
Mortality	452541	465169	478180

The cost incurred by a cancer patient for diagnosis and treatment including medicines inter-alia depends on the type of cancer, the site/location in the body, extent of spread, and the stage at which the disease is detected.

While Health is a State subject, the Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments for improving healthcare including prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.  The treatment of diseases including Cancer is either free or subsidized in the Government Institutions.

Government of India had launched a comprehensive National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010 with focus on 3 sites namely breast, cervical and oral cancer.  From 2013-14 onwards, interventions under NPCDCS for prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, which can be taken up to District level, have been brought under the umbrella of National Health Mission.

In addition, Government of India has in the year 2013-14, approved a scheme for enhancing the Tertiary Care Cancer facilities in the country.   Under this scheme (tertiary component of NPCDCS), Government of India will assist 20 State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and 50 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) in different parts of the country.

Government of India also provides treatment of cancer through Central Government Hospitals/Institutions in different parts of the country such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdarjung Hospital, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, PGIMER, Chandigrh, JIPMER, Puducherry, Chittranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata etc. Oncology in its various aspects has focus in case of new AIIMS and many upgraded institutions under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY). The proposal of setting up of National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar and development of 2^nd campus of Chittranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata has also been approved.

Financial assistance to poor patients is provided under Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant (HMDG), Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) and Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) within the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi.

The Health Minister stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.