New Delhi, 8 February 2025: More than 14.6 crore women across India have been screened for breast cancer, while over nine crore have undergone cervical cancer screening, Union Health Minister J P Nadda informed the Lok Sabha in a written response.
According to data from the National Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) portal, 57,184 women have been diagnosed with breast cancer, with 50,612 currently receiving treatment.
Besides, 96,747 cases of cervical cancer have been identified, and 86,196 women are undergoing treatment.
The National NCD Portal, launched in 2018 under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), facilitates screening, management, and continuity of care for major non-communicable diseases, including breast and cervical cancer.
The NP-NCD, introduced in 2010 by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, aims to improve healthcare infrastructure, enhance resource development, promote early diagnosis, and ensure timely referral to appropriate medical facilities.
“To strengthen healthcare services, 770 district NCD clinics, 233 cardiac care units, 372 district daycare centers, and 6,410 NCD clinics at community health centers have been set up across the country,” Nadda stated.
The government also provides technical and financial support to states and Union Territories under the NP-NCD as part of the National Health Mission (NHM), he added.
The programme focuses on infrastructure development, human resource capacity building, early diagnosis, referral systems, and health promotion to prevent major NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes, oral cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer.
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) conduct community-based assessments for individuals aged 30 and above, using a checklist to identify high-risk individuals. Those flagged as high-risk are referred for further screening under NHM’s comprehensive primary healthcare framework, Nadda noted.
