Drew Mutz
Feb 02, 2024 - 06:10

Cervical Cancer Cases in India 2023: Over 3.4 Lakh Cases Informed to Parliament

Minister of State for Health Satya Pal Singh Baghel said the Centre provides support for cancer screening for those aged 30+.

The Indian Council of Medical Research's National Cancer Registry Programme (ICMR-NCRP) has estimated that there will be over 3.4 lakh cases of cervical cancer in India in 2023. In response to this, the Minister of State for Health, Satya Pal Singh Baghel, has stated that the government provides technical and financial support to states and Union territories under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) as part of the National Health Mission (NHM).

This support is based on proposals received from the states and is subject to the available resources. The NP-NCD focuses on strengthening infrastructure, developing human resources, and promoting health awareness for the prevention, early diagnosis, management, and referral of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer.

As part of this program, 753 district NCD clinics and 6,237 community health center NCD clinics have been established. Additionally, a population-based initiative for the prevention, control, and screening of common NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension, and common cancers has been implemented under the NHM. This initiative also includes screening for the three common cancers - cervical, breast, and oral - for individuals over 30 years old.

The Minister also highlighted that screening for these common cancers is an essential part of the services provided under the Ayushman Arogya Mandir. This comprehensive approach to primary healthcare aims to address the growing concern of NCDs in the country.

Overall, the government is taking proactive measures to address the prevalence of NCDs, particularly cancer, by providing support to states and Union territories and implementing targeted screening and prevention programs. This demonstrates a commitment to improving public health and addressing the challenges posed by non-communicable diseases in India.