Parliament Question: Role of Atomic Energy in Cancer Treatment

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 387 ANSWERED ON 20.08.2025 ROLE OF ATOMIC ENERGY IN CANCER TREATMENT *387. SHRI ANURAG SHARMA SHRI ANOOP PRADHAN VALMIKI Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:- (a) the role and contribution of the Department of Atomic Energy and its affiliated institutions in the national effort against cancer particularly in the areas of advanced treatment and research; (b) the details of achievements and advancements in treating complex cancer and the nature of the required inter-departmental collaboration; (c) the current status of domestic and international collaborations for cancer research within the DAE and the details of key outcomes of these partnerships particularly in Lok Sabha Constituencies of Dewas and Shajapur; (d) the details of Government’s strategy for making advanced cancer therapies more accessible and affordable to the general public in the country particularly in the said constituencies: (e) whether any radiotherapy or isotope-based cancer treatment facilities have been established or proposed to be established in Madhya Pradesh particularly in the said Constituencies and if so, the details thereof; and (f) the details of the effect observed by Tarapur Atomic Energy Plant at Palghar in Maharashtra and efforts made against the diseases in the plant and township particularly against cancer and various facilities including emergency treatment in the area? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH) (a) to (f) A statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO P ARTS (A) TO (F) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*387 FOR REPLY ON 20.08.2025 REGARDING “ROLE OF ATOMIC ENERGY IN CANCER TREATMENT” ASKED BY SHRI ANURAG SHARMA AND SHRI ANOOP PRADHAN VALMIKI. (a) The Tata Memorial Hospital under the Department of Atomic Energy is providing comprehensive evidence-based cancer treatment. The TMC has established 11 hospitals in 7 States of India which are located at Mumbai, Varanasi, Vizag, Sangrur, Mullanpur, Guwahati and Bhubaneshwar. Out of 11 hospitals, 8 are functional and 3 are under construction. Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) being a premier cancer centre in the country, provides leadership in guiding the national/international policy and strategy for cancer care by-  Promoting outstanding services through evidence-based practice of oncology  Commitment of imparting education in cancer to students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public  Emphasizing on research that is affordable, innovative and relevant to the needs of the country. (b) There is a long list of achievements and advancements in treating complex cancer by TMC. Some of the achievements are highlighted below: i. National Facility for Hadron Beam Therapy at ACTREC ii. India's first homegrown CAR T-Cell therapy for cancer treatment iii. PREVALL – First and only oral suspension of Mercaptopurine used in the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia developed by TMC, DAE. iv. Breakthrough Nutraceutical AKTOCYTE by the Department of Atomic Energy set to Transform Cancer Care v. TRANS-ARTERIAL Radioembolisation Using Indigenously Sourced Y- 90 Microspheres (BHABHASPHERES) vi. Largest Radiological Research Unit (Therapeutic Nuclear medicine unit) Page 1 of 3(c),(d) & (e) The TMC has initiated and planned a strategy for making advanced cancer therapies more accessible and affordable to the general public in the country through National Cancer Grid (NCG). At present 382 members / organizations are connected with NCG which is providing treatment to approximately 8,50,000 new cancer cases. The NCG has potential of massive and far-reaching impact to cover the large number of general public in the country. As far as Dewas and Shajapur constituencies is concerned, the people can utilize the facilities from the nearby following centres which are connected to NCG-TMC Cancer Unit, Bansal Hospital, Shahapura, Bansal Hospital Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh - 462016 Surya Mandir Road, Near Sun Temple, BIMR Oncology Centre Morar, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh 474005 Cancer Hospital & Research Cancer Hill Gwalior 474 009, Madhya Centre (RCC) Pradesh Career Institute of Medical Career College Campus, opp. Dusherra Sciences and Cancer Maidan, Govindpura, (BHEL), Bhopal - Research Institute 462023 Bhainsakhedi, Near Bairagarh, Bhopal- Chirayu Medical College Indore Highway, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462030 Cancer Foundation, Pigdambar Road, Rau, Indian Institute of Head & Near Indian Institute of Management, Neck Oncology Indore, Madhya Pradesh 453331 P. O. Padhar, District Betul, Madhya Padhar Hospital Pradesh 460 005 M. P. Birla Hospital, J. R. Birla Road, Post Priyamvada Birla Cancer Birla Vikas, Satna 485005, Madhya Research Institute Pradesh Part 5 & 6, Race Course Road, R S Shalby Hospital (Indore bhandari Marg, Janjeerwala Square, Division) Indore-452003, Madhya Pradesh, India Indore - Ujjain State Highway, Near MR Sri Aurobindo Institute of 10 Crossing, Indore, Madhya Pradesh Medical Sciences 453555 142, Phadnis Colony, A.B. Road, Near SRJ CBCC Cancer Center LIG Square, Indore, 452001 Old High Ct Rd, near High Court, Vidya Cancer Hospital MainaWali Gali, Dal Bazaar, Lashkar, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh 474009 TMC will extend its network under hub and spoke model in a phased manner through technical collaboration and assistance, which will cover many more constituencies in the future. Page 2 of 3(f) Epidemiological surveys for health assessment in respect of employees working in close proximity to radiation and their families at each of the operating nuclear power plants in India have been carried out by reputed local medical colleges in association with Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai, a premier cancer research centre in the country. In addition, annual medical checkups are carried out for occupational workers regularly. These studies/examinations have found that the morbidity pattern of all ailments is lower than the national average. There has also not been any rise in cancer morbidity, birth defects in the new born as compared to national average. All these studies and reports clearly establish that there are no adverse health impacts of the operation of the nuclear power plants on the people working in them. ***** Page 3 of 3