Cancer on the rise in India, says minister
December 13th, 2011 - 6:09 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Dec 13 (IANS) Cancer is on the rise in India, with an estimated 535,767 people dying of the disease this year, Minister of State for Health Sudip Bandyopadhyay informed the Rajya Sabha Tuesday.
“As per National Cancer Registry Programme of the Indian Council of Medical Research, the number of cancer cases is gradually increasing in the country,” the minister said in a written reply during the question hour.
As many as 535,767 cancer deaths were reported this year, compared to 524,911 deaths last year. In 2009, 514,470 people died of the disease.
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of deaths with 89,224 people dying of the disease, followed by Maharashtra with 50,989 deaths, and Bihar where 43,864 people died of cancer.
The number of cancer deaths in some other states were - West Bengal (40,199), Tamil Nadu (39,127), Rajasthan (30,976), Andhra Pradesh (37,144), Madhya Pradesh (27,214), Gujarat (26,588), Karnataka (25,531), Punjab (12,575), Haryana (11,708) and Assam (12,822).
In another written reply, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the incidence of new cancer cases every year in the country is about 11 lakh.
Azad said funds are given to states to provide assistance to poor families suffering from life threatening disease.
“During the current year, 2,202 cancer patients have been given financial assistance,” he added.
He also said parliamentarians recommended 241 cancer cases for financial assistance.
“The working group on disease burden, non-communicable diseases set up by the Planning Commission for the 12th Plan, recommended development of 20 state cancer institutes as centres of excellence besides three national cancer institutes,” Azad said.
“However, this will be dependent on final approval of the Planning Commission and availability of resources,” he added.
- Over 50 percent deaths from non-communicable diseases: Azad - Sep 08, 2011
- Harsher cancer warning on tobacco products in the offing - May 25, 2011
- Japanese Encephalitis: Azad visits Gorakhpur - Oct 20, 2011
- 50 mn Indians to be screened for diabetes - Jul 19, 2011
- India world's second largest tobacco user: Report (Lead) - Oct 19, 2010
- Need to tackle monumental challenge of non-communicable diseases: Azad - Nov 17, 2011
- Cardiovascular diseases to cause most deaths by 2020: Azad - Sep 28, 2011
- Focusing on rural areas for non-communicable diseases: Azad - Aug 23, 2011
- Cancer can be fought -- and won - Nov 16, 2011
- India to screen entire population for cancer, heart ailment - Dec 13, 2011
- Meningitis kills over 240 - Nov 25, 2011
- Tobacco behind 7 percent deaths above 30 in India - Apr 27, 2012
- Cervical cancer leading cancer-killer among Indian women - Mar 28, 2012
- Cuba launches world's first lung cancer retardant - Sep 07, 2011
- Exercise improves survival in prostate cancer patients - Feb 02, 2012
Tags: assam, bandyopadhyay, cancer cases, cancer deaths, cancer patients, centres of excellence, disease burden, final approval, ghulam nabi azad, health minister, madhya pradesh, minister of state, national cancer institutes, national cancer registry, non communicable diseases, parliamentarians, poor families, rajya sabha, sudip, west bengal