Cancer and its Government Initiatives

Why in news?

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)'s recent study found that people living near river drains face high cancer risk, with hazard quotients like Lead, iron, and aluminium exceeding Central Pollution Control Board’s safe limits.

• Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body.
• Types of Cancer
  • Carcinoma- Most common cancer, forms in epithelial cells (e.g., Lung Cancer).
  • Sarcoma- Cancer in bone & soft tissues (e.g., Ewing’s Sarcoma).
  • Leukemia- Cancer in blood-forming tissue, excess abnormal WBCs (Acute Myeloid Leukemia).
  • Lymphoma- Cancer in lymphocytes (immune cells) (Burkitt’s Lymphoma).
  • Multiple Myeloma-Cancer in plasma cells, forming bone tumors (Smoldering Myeloma).
  • Melanoma-Cancer in melanocytes, affects skin & eyes (Cutaneous Melanoma).
• Common cancers - Breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and skin cancer.
• Staging
  • Stage I-III -Cancer that has grown into nearby tissue or lymph nodes
  • Stage IV - Cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body

Steps taken for the treatment of cancer

1. Tertiary Care Cancer facilities scheme

• Significant effort to boost cancer care infrastructure in India.
• Launched in - 2013-14
• It is launched under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVD and Stroke (NPCDCS).
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• Funding – Centrally sponsored scheme.
• The scheme provides financial assistance to set up State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCCs).
• The maximum permissible assistance for SCI is Rs. 120 crores and for TCCC is Rs. 45 crores, which includes State share of 40%, except for North-Eastern and Himalayan States where the State share is 10%
• Objectives
  • To improve access to high-quality cancer care.
  • To strengthen the network of tertiary cancer care facilities.
  • To reduce the financial burden on patients.

2. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY)

• Cancer treatment is also covered under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY)
• PM-JAY extended health coverage to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income.
• It includes packages encompassing procedures related to Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Palliative Medicine within the National Health Benefit Package (HBP).

3. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP)

• To further support cancer treatment, PMBJP has been launched to establish dedicated outlets known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs).

4. Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) initiative

• Launched by - Health Ministry
• Aim - To provide affordable medicines for cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and other health conditions.

References

1. The Hindu | Elevated risk of developing cancer

Related News - National Cancer institute| Cancer and its types