New Delhi, May 21: The Central Health Ministry, through the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), is committed to eliminating barriers in combating childhood cancer, as stated by Deputy Director General L. Swasticharan on Thursday. The goal is to ensure that all affected children can look forward to a healthy future.
During a workshop organized by the Indian Childhood Cancer Initiative (ICCI), Swasticharan emphasized that childhood cancer is one of the most manageable targets for government programs. He noted that increasing survival rates for pediatric cancer patients is comparatively easier than for other diseases.
The workshop aimed to develop a roadmap for the ‘National Childhood Cancer Program.’ Swasticharan suggested that models developed in Kerala and Tamil Nadu should be studied. These models incorporate self-help groups and utilize financial assistance frameworks linked to the ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.’
He also highlighted the importance of post-survival support for cancer patients. Swasticharan stated that efforts to cure a patient should not end with their survival but should continue beyond that. Community involvement and multi-stakeholder partnerships are essential to support those recovering from cancer. Early detection of childhood cancer is crucial.
He pointed out that this issue is significant enough to be classified as a ‘notifiable disease.’ The ministry is currently collaborating with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to ensure that no patient is left behind.
Bishnu Giri, a technical officer for cancer control at the WHO Southeast Asia region, remarked that expenditures on childhood cancer are not wasteful but yield substantial economic returns. For every dollar spent on this illness, there is a financial benefit of three dollars, especially in developing countries, along with social advantages.
He recommended establishing a sustainable economic system using funding sources to improve childhood cancer care and outcomes.
Ramandeep Arora, a member of the ICCI Governing Council, stated that clinical facilities and medical expertise are now available in the country. However, a little assistance from the government is needed to enhance the impact at the grassroots level.
He further mentioned the need to initiate a ‘National Childhood Cancer Program’ and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the WHO, prioritizing India as a partner country. This would facilitate the introduction of global best practices and techniques in cancer treatment.
Abhishek Kunwar, a national professional officer for NCD at WHO India, suggested that we should learn from existing NCD programs and avoid launching separate initiatives for specific diseases.
In September 2022, a parliamentary standing committee on health and family welfare acknowledged the need for a specific policy framework for childhood cancer in its 139th report titled ‘Cancer Care Planning and Management: Prevention, Diagnosis, Research, and Affordability of Cancer Treatment.’
Cancer specialist Ramandeep Arora from Max Hospital noted that the report indicates the government’s agreement on the need for a ‘National Comprehensive Childhood Cancer Management Policy.’ This policy should include early diagnosis at public health centers, shared care, and integrated care for childhood cancer.
The workshop was organized by ICCI, a national multi-stakeholder platform established in 2023 to strengthen childhood cancer care in India through collaborative work and policy-making.
According to ICCI and other studies, India sees approximately 75,000 new cases of childhood cancer each year, with a survival rate of around 60 percent.
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