High Cases of Cancer in Punjab
An Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) team had visited several districts of Punjab in September, 2010 to assess, inter-alia, the magnitude of cancer occurrence in the State. The team noted that limited information on cancer occurrence in these areas was available through survey reports and the limited data suggested that the prevalence of cancer in the entire state of Punjab as indicated by the above surveys was not higher than other areas of India. In December, 2012, a cancer awareness and early detection project was launched by the Government of Punjab covering whole of the State and all age groups. A copy of the interim report of this survey has been submitted to the Ministry and considered by a Committee consisting of Experts of AIIMS, ICMR and PGIMER, Chandigarh. The experts have opined that the following details are not available in the report:
(i) Date of first diagnosis,
(ii) Sex of the patient,
(iii) Basis of diagnosis – whether microscopic confirmation / report was available or not and was based on self reporting and
(iv) anatomical site of tumor. In the absence of the same, it cannot be determined whether these are true incidence or prevalent cases of a particular year or by sex or by site of tumor.
The National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) has initiated preparation of Cancer Atlas covering the whole State of Punjab, a Population based Cancer Registry in Government Medical College, Patiala and a Hospital Based Cancer Registry at PGIMER, Chandigarh. Periodic visits and workshops by NCRP team are being made since the last two years.
While Health is a State subject, to supplement the efforts of the State Governments in prevention, detection, treatment and management of cancer cases, Government of India has launched a comprehensive National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010 in 100 districts across 21 States including 3 districts from Punjab. Under the programme, financial assistance upto Rs. 1.00 lakh per patient is provided for chemotherapy drugs to treat 100 Cancer patients per district.
The programme also envisages strengthening Government Medical College Hospitals and erstwhile Regional Cancer Centres (RCC) across the country as Tertiary Cancer Centres (TCC) for providing comprehensive Cancer care services. These institutions are eligible for financial assistance upto Rs. 6.00 crore (Rs. 4.80 crore from Central Government and Rs. 1.20 crore from State Government). Grant-in-aid of Rs.4.8 crore as Government of India’s share to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot (Punjab) under TCC component during 2011-12 has been released.
In addition, this Ministry has also recognized Post Graduate Institute Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh as a Regional Cancer Centre.
This information was given by Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
BN/HB/AS