- Apollo Cancer Centre, ICMR, IMA, and State Oncology Association come together to fight against cancer
- Pass cancer notification Bill in both the Upper and Lower Houses in the ongoing budget session
- With this notification, cancer registries will play a vital role in collecting and managing surveillance data which improves the efficiency of cancer control programmes
- The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) also supports the notification of cancer as it will provide crucial epidemiological data needed for evidence-based policy-making
GOWRI MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, FEB 5
Stating that in 12 developed countries, cancer notification is compulsory; whereas, in most developing countries, including India, the provision of information is on a voluntary basis. Cancer is a significant public health concern in India. Cancer registries play a vital role in collecting and managing surveillance data which improves the efficiency of cancer control programmes. Of the 28 states in India only 15 have so far notified it but it is not mandatory. The delivery of health care largely rests with the health authorities of the States, health being a state subject. Experts urged the Union Government to take the logical move of passing a vital Bill in both the Upper and Lower Houses in the ongoing budget session of Parliament in this regard, a much-needed critical step for combating the disease.
Apollo Cancer Centres, in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association, Ahmedabad Hospitals &; Nursing Home Association (AHNA) and other organisations launched a nationwide campaign — Unify to Notify — on the occasion of World Cancer Day on Tuesday (February 4). The campaign urges the Government of India to classify cancer as a notifiable disease, a much-needed critical step for combating the disease.
“India currently reports over 14 lakh new cancer cases annually and the number is expected to rise to 15.7 lakhs by this year. This figure is not accurate and the number of cases my be more than that. Designating cancer as a notifiable disease will ensure real-time data collection and accurate reporting, thereby establishing a clearer picture of the disease’s scale. It will also help develop standardised treatment protocols through epidemiological analysis and targeted intervention strategies. Moreover, the move will also enhance accuracy, efficiency and accessibility in cancer treatment, ultimately strengthening India’s role in global oncology research and care.
Parliamentary Standing Committee bats for notification
In 2022, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare submitted a report to the Rajya Sabha recommending that cancer be classified as a notifiable disease. Through the Unify to Notify initiative, the healthcare industry is hopeful that the Government will take the next logical move, passing this Bill in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during the ongoing budget session.
Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Velu Nair, Head & Chief Consultant, Haemato-Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant, Apollo Cancer Centre, said, “Apollo Cancer Centres has been at the forefront of providing comprehensive cancer care, and we believe that the notification of cancer will enable us to further enhance the services towards better cancer care. By making cancer a notifiable disease, we can ensure that all cancer cases are reported and documented, enabling us to track cancer incidence, mortality and survival rates. This will certainly help deliver better health care, starting from early detection, timely treatment to improve outcomes. We appeal to the union government to take steps to make cancer a notifiable disease at the earliest.”
The ‘Unify to Notify’ campaign represents a yeoman step towards transforming cancer care in India and identifying cancer as a notifiable disease, where every cancer case counts, every patient matters to strive towards inclusivity and no data point is lost in the journey towards better cancer care in India.
Dr Akash Shah, Sr. Consultant, Medical Oncology, Apollo Cancer Centre, said, “Making cancer notifiable will revolutionise our understanding of cancer patterns at the state level and help us identify regional variations in cancer types and risk factors, leading to more targeted prevention programmes. With its network of cancer centres across the country, Apollo will play a critical role in collecting and analysing cancer data.”
Cdr. Jelson Kavalakkat, Chief Operating Officer, Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad, said, “It takes a collective voice to silence cancer. On this World Cancer Day, we have come together to urge the government to classify cancer as a notifiable disease. Such a move will lead to faster detection, better treatment, stronger prevention and enhanced research, empowering the medical community to fight cancer more effectively. At Apollo Cancer Centres, we have already established a robust cancer registry, which has enabled us to track cancer trends and outcomes. We are now seeking the invaluable support of healthcare and urge the Government of India to pass this bill to enable better cancer care and research across India.”
Dr. Dilip Gadhavi, Joint Secretary, IMA and AKN Sinha Institute, said, “We stand firmly with this initiative to make cancer a notifiable disease. This step will bridge the current gaps in our cancer surveillance system and enable better coordination between various healthcare providers.”
Dr Bharat Gadhavi, President, Ahmedabad Hospitals & Nursing Homes Association (AHNA), said, “Making cancer a notifiable disease can revolutionise the approach toward cancer care. With proper documentation of every case, we can better understand patterns, allocate resources efficiently, and develop targeted treatment protocols.”
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also supported the notification of cancer as it will provide crucial epidemiological data needed for evidence-based policy-making. The current estimates of the cancer burden in India are based on limited data. Mandatory reporting will give accurate insights into cancer patterns, helping design better prevention strategies and allocate research funding more effectively.
While 15 states, including Haryana, Karnataka, Tripura, West Bengal, Punjab, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur and Rajasthan, have already made cancer a notifiable disease, nationwide implementation remains a necessity. Globally, over 12 countries, including the US, England and Wales, Scotland, Denmark, Nordic nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and The Gambia have recognised the importance of mandatory cancer reporting.
