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Cancer Data Black Hole: Supreme Court Seeks National Response
12 Dec
Summary
- Supreme Court seeks national response on making cancer a notifiable disease.
- Only 17 of 36 states/UTs have measures for mandatory cancer reporting.
- Ninety percent of India's population lacks systematic cancer surveillance.
The Supreme Court has requested a response from the Central government regarding a petition to designate cancer as a nationwide notifiable disease. A significant data deficit exists, as approximately 90% of India's population is not covered by any systematic cancer surveillance mechanism. This lack of comprehensive data hinders effective national cancer control efforts and policy planning.
This situation arises from an inconsistent approach across states and union territories, with only 17 out of 36 having enacted measures for mandatory cancer reporting. The petition emphasizes that this "dangerous patchwork system" leaves a vast majority without the benefits of mandatory reporting, which is crucial for disease surveillance and early detection.
The absence of a universal notification system results in a severe data black hole, impacting the National Cancer Registry Programme. This under-reporting leads to inaccurate assessments of the national cancer burden, potentially misallocating resources and impeding the implementation of vital screening and early detection programs. The plea also touches upon the spread of misinformation regarding cancer 'cures'.
