**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's response to a parliamentary question regarding cancer incidence in India, particularly in the North-East region and Darjeeling/Kalimpong districts. It provides data on cancer cases, research efforts, and financial support for cancer patients. The response references the Union Budget 2025-26 and the need to strengthen decentralized cancer care.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Cancer Incidence Data:**
* Estimated number of incident cancer cases for all types and sites across India from 2021-2025 are provided in Annexure-I, state-wise.
* Higher Age Adjusted Incidence Rates (AAIR) are observed in some North Eastern States.
* **Cancer Research:**
* ICMR conducts cancer research through various institutes, projects, and a cancer consortium.
* ICMR is funding research on specific cancers like gall bladder, breast, and lung cancer, including cancers in the North-East.
* **Government Support Programs:**
* The Department of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to States/UTs under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) as part of the National Health Mission (NHM).
* The programme strengthens infrastructure, human resource development, screening, early diagnosis, referral, treatment, and health promotion for NCDs.
* 770 District NCD Clinics, 364 District Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCC), and 6,410 NCD clinics at Community Health Centres have been set up nationwide.
* 297 Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) have been approved for establishment for financial year 2025-26.
* Screening for common cancers is part of service delivery at Ayushman Arogya Mandir, targeting individuals over 30 years.
* 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) have been established nationwide, including 3 TCCCs in West Bengal.
* **Financial Assistance for Patients:**
* Essential medicines and diagnostics are ensured at public health facilities under the National Health Mission (NHM), National Free Drugs Initiative, and Free Diagnostic Services.
* Anti-cancer drugs are on the Essential Drugs List at District and Sub-Divisional Hospitals under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases (NP-NCDs).
* Treatment for major NCDs, including cancer, is available under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY), offering ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care in empanelled hospitals.
* Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) and Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacies enhance access to affordable cancer medicines.
**Impact Analysis**
**Key Stakeholders**
* **Cancer Patients:**
* **Impact:** Access to data regarding cancer incidence, awareness, screening programs, financial assistance for treatment and travel.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the provided information to seek appropriate screening, diagnosis, treatment, and financial assistance options available through government programs.
* **State Governments / Union Territories:**
* **Impact:** Receive technical and financial support for cancer prevention and control programs.
* **Action Required:** Implement and strengthen cancer care infrastructure, screening programs, and awareness campaigns in accordance with the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) guidelines.
* **Healthcare Providers (Hospitals, Clinics, and Healthcare Professionals):**
* **Impact:** Enhanced infrastructure and resources for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care through government support programs.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the implementation of cancer screening and treatment programs, utilize government funding opportunities, and improve the delivery of cancer care services.
* **ICMR and Research Institutions:**
* **Impact:** Continued funding and support for cancer research initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Conduct research on cancer causes, prevention, and treatment, focusing on areas with high incidence rates, such as the North-East region.
Key Entities Referenced
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD): A national program providing technical and financial support for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, including cancer.
National Health Mission (NHM): A national mission supporting essential medicines, diagnostics, and various health initiatives including screening for common cancers.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): An organization conducting cancer research and funding research projects on various cancers.
Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB PMJAY): A financial scheme providing coverage for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization for NCDs including cancer.
North-East States: A geographical area with high cancer incidence rates according to NCDIR-NCRP data.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2439
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13TH FEBRUARY,2026
REPORTINGOFHIGH CANCER CASES IN NORTH-EAST
2439. SHRIRAJU BISTA:
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleasedtostate:
(a) the details of cancer incidence in the country along with the number of reported cases
annuallyduring the last five years, State-wise;
(b) the total number of different types of cancer cases reported from the Darjeeling and
Kalimpongdistricts during the last five years, type-wise;
(c) whether it is true that the incidences of cancer are particularly high in the North-East States
andHimalayanregionsandif so, the detailsthereofandif not,the reasons therefor;
(d) the details of research/studies conducted by the Government to assess the major causes of
cancerandthe keyfindingsthereof;
(e) the details of hospitals treating cancer, screening centres and public awareness programmes
during the last five years in the State of West Bengal, particularly in Darjeeling and Kalimpong
districts; and
(f) the details of financial schemes and facilities provided to Cancer Patients for travel to
hospitals andtowards treatment costs?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH ANDFAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) to (c): Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that, as per the National
Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR) – National Cancer Registry Programme
(NCRP), the estimated number of incident cases of all types and sites of cancer in the country
during the last five years, State/UT-wise, is enclosedat Annexure-I. As per the NCDIR – NCRP,
the higherAge Adjusted Incidence Rates(AAIR) are seen insome areasof North EasternStates.
(d) ICMR is conducting research on cancer through its institutes, various projects and cancer
consortium. ICMR isfunding research inareasof gallbladdercancer, breast cancer,lungcancers,
cancersinNorth-east through itscentrally sponsored research projects.
(e) & (f) The Department of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support
to States and Union Territories across the country under the National Programme for Prevention
and Control of Non Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) as part of the National Health Mission
(NHM). The programme focuses on strengthening infrastructure, human resource development,
screening, early diagnosis, referral, treatment, and health promotion for Non- Communicable
Diseases (NCDs).Under NP-NCD, 770 District NCD Clinics, 364 District Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCC) and
6,410 NCD clinics at Community Health Centres have been set up across the country. As per the
announcement of Union Budget 2025-26, for financial year 2025-26, 297 Day Care Cancer
Centres (DCCCs) have been approved for establishment across the country to strengthen
decentralizedcancer care byaligninginfrastructure development with patientneeds.
A population-based initiative for prevention, control and screening for common NCDs i.e.,
diabetes, hypertension including three common cancers (oral cancer, breast cancer and cervical
cancer) has been rolled out in the country under NHM and also as a part of Comprehensive
Primary Health Care. Under the initiative, persons more than 30 years of age are targeted for
their screening for the three common cancers. Screening of these common cancers is an integral
part of service deliveryat AyushmanArogya Mandir.
Under Strengthening of Tertiary Care Cancer Facilities Scheme, 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCI)
and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) have been established across the country including
3 TCCCs in State of West Bengal. Further, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata
have beenset upbythe Government toprovide super specialtycancercare.
Under National Health Mission (NHM), National Free Drugs Initiative and Free Diagnostic
Services ensure essential medicines and diagnostics at public health facilities, reducing out-of-
pocket expenses. Anti-cancer drugs are included in the Essential Drugs List at District and Sub-
Divisional Hospitals under National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non
Communicable Diseases (NP-NCDs).
Treatment of major NCDs including Cancer treatment are available under Ayushman Bharat –
Pradhan Mantri Jan ArogyaYojana (AB PMJAY). This scheme provides for Rs. 5lakh perfamily
annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitilization in the empanelled public and private
hospitals. The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) and Affordable
Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacies improve access to
affordable cancer medicines, stents, and implants, reducing out-of-pocket expenses and
supporting long-term treatment adherenceANNEXURE-I
Estimated IncidenceofNewcancercasesinIndiabydifferentState/UT-Alltypesofcancer
sites
State 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Jammu&Kashmir 11683 11764 11869 11946 12024
Ladakh 260 261 262 262 262
Himachalpradesh 7885 7924 7959 8001 8041
Punjab 23129 23276 23420 23573 23719
Chandigarh 979 992 997 1006 1014
Uttarakhand 12172 12298 12420 12552 12678
Haryana 31505 31896 32282 32671 33059
Delhi 24878 25591 26328 27120 27935
Rajasthan 80761 84041 87535 91208 92175
Uttarpradesh 235153 244583 254579 265167 267823
Bihar 120159 121945 123731 125522 127306
Sikkim 565 573 583 597 607
Arunachalpradesh 659 663 668 675 677
Nagaland 2240 2257 2268 2288 2314
Manipur 2062 2146 2214 2300 2373
Mizoram 1894 1943 1991 2048 2093
Tripura 3122 3253 3407 3557 3605
Meghalaya 2834 2918 3004 3105 3128
Assam 45365 47292 49349 51553 52027
Westbengal 95586 96058 96529 97004 97472
Jharkhand 37571 38054 38539 39022 39507
Orissa 44572 44861 45148 45426 45714
Chattisgarh 30054 31289 32600 33988 34372
Madhyapradesh 86126 89737 93560 97621 98759
Gujarat 65609 67611 69687 71873 72759
Daman 442 498 557 607 650
Dadra&Nagar 580 639 691 744 789
Haveli
Maharashtra 116666 119687 122857 126173 127139
Telangana 42087 43786 45599 47522 47751
Andhrapradesh 58914 61212 63664 66268 66503
Karnataka 74573 77710 81043 84585 85110
Goa 1463 1495 1535 1571 1581
Lakshadweep 67 71 77 84 84
Kerala 76384 80042 83945 88118 88471
Tamilnadu 81396 85215 89314 93731 95100
Puducherry 1771 1879 1995 2112 2158
Andaman& 445 459 480 499 499
NicobarIslands
India 1421611 1465919 1512686 1562099 1577278