Cancer cases to cross 15 lakh by 2025: Health Minister JP Nadda

NEW DELHI: Cases of cancer is estimated to cross 15 lakh by 2025 in the country, which is 35 per cent higher than the 2014 figure, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

"Based upon the estimates of National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), incidences of cancer are estimated to increase to 15,10,396 by 2025 which is 35.2 per cent higher as compared to estimated figure of 2014," Health Minister J P Nadda said in a written reply.

Replying to another question, the minister said that the increase in the number of cancer cases in the country may be attributed to larger number of ageing population, unhealthy lifestyles, use of tobacco, unhealthy diet and others.

"As reported by ICMR, in 2012, the estimated number of cancer cases in the world by GLOBOCAN 2012, International Agency for Research on cancer, is 1,40,67,894 while for the same year, estimated number of cancer cases in India by ICMR is 10,57,205 which works out to be 7.5 per cent of the total cases of the world," Nadda said.

He said that as per the data provided by National Cancer Registry Programme of ICMR, estimated mortality due to cancer in the country in 2015 is 5,05,428 while it was 4,91,598 in 2014.

"As informed by ICMR, based on National Cancer Registry Programme Data, while 1 in 14 women in India (0-64 years of age) have a chance of developing cancer, the corresponding figure for men is 1 in 16," Nadda said.

He said that the central government supplements the efforts of states for improving health care including prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

The government has also approved tertiary care for cancer scheme under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases and strokes in 2013-14. He said that in addition, treatment for cancer in government hospitals is either free or subsidised.