Rajya Sabha MP Mahesh Poddar has expressed concern over the increasing number of cancer patients in the country. Taking this matter under zero hours on Thursday, Poddar demanded the formation of a national level committee to run cancer awareness campaigns, establish world-class cancer research institutes and increase investment in cancer control.
Poddar said that there has been a huge increase in the number of people suffering from cancer in the country. According to the report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 4 February on the occasion of World Cancer Day, one in every 10 Indians can get cancer in their lifetime and one in 15 Indians will die of cancer. 1.16 million new cases of cancer have been reported in India, of which 7,84,800 people die due to cancer. According to the report, six types of cancer are the most common in India - breast cancer (1,62,500 cases), Mouth cancer (1,20,000 cases), cervical cancer (97,000 cases), lung cancer (68,000 cases), colon cancer (57,000) and colorectal cancer (57,000).
Poddar, citing a research published in the Journal of Global Oncology, told the House that cancer cases in India will double every 20 years and will have the highest impact in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha.
Poddar has suggested that the government should run a cancer awareness campaign so that people of every section of the country are aware of it. More and more world-class cancer research institutes should be established where world-class research facilities are available, with the help of this disease Necessary steps can be taken to stop He said that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare should set up a committee that aims to set a national agenda on cancer, mobilize stakeholders and set priorities for states to invest in cancer control and universal health coverage.
