Parliament Question: Establishment of national scientific mission on anal-health disorders

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RESEARCH RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 431 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03RD FEBRUARY, 2026 ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC MISSION ON ANAL-HEALTH DISORDERS 431. DR. AJEET MADHAVRAO GOPCHADE: Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware that nearly 18 crore Indians suffer from anal-region disorders such as piles, fissure, fistula, rectal prolapse and related conditions; (b) whether these disorders significantly impair quality of life, productivity and public health outcomes; (c) whether India presently lacks India-specific scientific data, national registries, biobanks and dedicated research infrastructure for such highly prevalent conditions, despite advanced research being undertaken in developed countries; and (d) whether Government proposes to establish a National Anal-Health and Anorectal Research Mission for research, prevention, early diagnosis and affordable treatment in the interest of public health and safety of human lives? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) to (d): Based on published literature, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that haemorrhoids (piles), anal fissure, fistula-in-ano and rectal prolapse are commonly reported conditions in clinical practice. There are widespread treatment facilities available in India for anal region disorders like piles, fissures, fistula, rectal prolapse and related conditions. ICMR also has developed the Standard Treatment Workflow (STW) for diagnosis and treatment of acute Gastrointestinal Bleeding in adults including bleeding per rectum, which has been made available to all the health facilities and practitioners. Moreover, the research support by the Department of Health Research including various research grants of ICMR cover a variety of public health conditions including commonly occurring disorders as well as different cancers including colorectal cancer. There is no disease registry maintained for anal disorders like piles, fissures and fistula. However, Disease registries have been maintained for high mortality conditions like cancer, stroke, rare and inherited diseases. *****