August 15, 2026 08:03 am (IST)
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NPCDCS under National Health Mission to ensure intervention at district level
New Delhi, Mar 15 (IBNS) Union Health Minister, J P Nadda, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday said that the Central Government is implementing the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) under National Health Mission (NHM) for interventions upto the district level.
The programme components include awareness generation for cancer prevention, screening, early detection and referral to an appropriate level institution for treatment. For Cancer, the focus is on three sites, namely breast, cervical and oral cancer.
He said that a “Tertiary Care for Cancer” Scheme was approved by the Union government in 2013-14. Under the said scheme, the Union government provides assistance to establish/set up State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) in different parts of the country. The maximum assistance inclusive of state share for SCI is upto Rs 120 crore and for TCCC is upto Rs 45 crore subject to eligibility as per scheme guidelines and availability of funds.
The treatment for cancer in Government Hospitals is either free or subsidized. In addition to Cancer diagnosis and treatment by the State Governments Health Institutes, the Central Government Institutions such as All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Safdurjung Hospital, Dr Ram ManoharLohia Hospital, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, etc. provide facilities for diagnosis and treatment of Cancer, the minister said.
Oncology in its various aspects has focus in case of new AIIMS and many upgraded institutions under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY).
Setting up of National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar (Haryana) and second campus of Chittranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata has also been approved, the minister informed the House.
He added that the list of medicines specified in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM), which are included in the First Schedule of Drug Pricing Control Order (DPCO), 2013 also contain drugs used for the treatment of cancer. NLEM (drug formulations) medicines for which ceiling prices have been notified under DPCO, 2013, includes 47 anti-Cancer medicines.
Presently one Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) outlet has been opened at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Approval has also been accorded for opening of such outlets at six new AIIMS and major Central Government Hospitals.
Further, the minister said that HLL Lifecare Ltd, which is a 100% Government of India owned PSU under the Health Ministry, has been directed to contact all states which may like to open AMRIT outlets in major state government hospitals/institutions.
As per the approval accorded for setting up AMRIT, the prices of the products are to be reasonable and significantly lower than the market price. AMRIT pharmacy has been opened with an objective to make available cancer and cardiovascular drugs and implants at reasonable prices to the patients.
The minister pointed out that financial assistance to Below Poverty Line (BPL) patients is available under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN).
Besides this, the Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) within the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi has been set up in 2009 wherein 27 erstwhile Regional Cancer Centres (RCCs) are provided with revolving funds to provide immediate financial assistance upto Rs two lakh to BPL cancer patients.
Assistance for Palliative care can now be a part of the National Health Mission. The States can incorporate their proposals related with initiation/enhancement of palliative care services in their respective State Project Implementation Plans, said the minister.
Moreover, the minister informed that certain amendments were effected in the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 in 2014, which are aimed at removing the regulatory barriers for adequate access to morphine and other opioids for medical needs such as pain relief and palliative care.
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