As per data collected by National Centre for Diseases Informatics and Research – National Cancer Registry Programme of ICMR, the estimated number of deaths due to cervical cancers accounts for 24% of all anatomical sites of cancer in women in India. This is the largest proportion among all cancers in women in India. The estimated number of deaths due to cervical cancers for the year 2015 is 62416.

Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Government for improving healthcare including prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Cancer. At present, the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) being implemented 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. The focus of the programme is on Breast, Cervical and Oral Cancer.

Screening guidelines for breast, cervical and oral Cancer have been provided to State Governments for implementation.

Screening for cervical cancer is by Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) technique. ICMR has launched an indigenous instrument called Magnivisulizer which can be used by trained health workers for screening for early detection of cervical cancer. Suspected cases are to be referred for confirmatory diagnosis by various tests including histo-pathological biopsy. Electronic and Print media is utilized for health awareness for cancer.

Government of India has approved “Tertiary Care for Cancer” Scheme under NPCDCS in the year 2013-14. Under the said scheme, Government of India assists to establish/set up State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) in different parts of the country. These institutions will mentor all Cancer related activities in their respective areas.

The treatment for cancer in Government Hospitals is either free or subsidized. In addition to Cancer diagnosis and treatment by the State Governments Health Institutes, the Central Government Institutions such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdurjung Hospital, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, etc. provide facilities for diagnosis and treatment of Cancer.

Oncology in its various aspects has focus in case of new AIIMS and many upgraded institutions under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY). Setting up of National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar (Haryana) and 2nd campus of Chittranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata have also been approved.

The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.