Counting cancer: On making cancer a notifiable disease in India
The article argues that India should make cancer a notifiable disease at the national level to improve data collection and public health planning. While some states have already taken this step, the lack of a unified national registry leaves significant gaps in tracking cancer cases, particularly in the private healthcare sector.
Why it matters
With cancer cases projected to rise significantly by 2045, accurate data is essential for effective public health policy and resource allocation.
What’s good for the goose is surely good for the geese. What the States will benefit from, the country could too. In India, cancer is not a notifiable disease at the national level, keeping with the Health Ministry’s position that such notification is only for communicable diseases. Population-based cancer registries and hospital-based cancer registries are currently the only national tool at the disposal of the Centre to count cancer cases. Unfortunately, these registries cover about 10%-16 % of the population, and have an urban, government health care set-up skew. However, several States have taken the lead on this front, making cancer a notifiable disease within their boundaries. Telangana is the latest to join the list of States that have made cancer a notifiable disease , bringing the total number of States doing so to 17.
The article advocates for a public health policy change based on expert recommendations and data, which is a standard editorial position rather than a partisan one.
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