Cancer cases rising every year: Vardhan in Rajya Sabha

The number of persons diagnosed with cancer every year has been on the rise in the country, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
Quoting data provided by the National Cancer Registry Programme of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the number of cancer patients in India for the year 2013 is estimated to be around 29 lakhs.
According to the ministry, the estimated mortality cancer cases in the country in 2013 was 4,78,180. It was 4,65,169 in 2012 and 4,52,541 in 2011.
In a written reply to the Upper House, the minister said the government had launched a comprehensive National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010, covering 100 districts in 21 states with focus on breast, cervical and oral cancer.

From 2013-14 onwards, interventions under the NPCDCS for prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer have been brought under the umbrella of National Health Mission, Vardhan said.
"In addition, the government has recently approved a scheme for enhancing the Tertiary Care Cancer facilities in the country.

Under this scheme (Tertiary component of NPCDCS), the Government of India will assist 20 State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and 50 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) in different parts of the country," he said.
The maximum assistance inclusive of state share for SCI is Rs 120 crore and for TCCC is Rs 45 crore.

The Centre and a state's share will be in the ratio of 75:25, and for the Northeast and hill states this ratio would be 90:10, he said.