India would soon initiate steps to register the actual number of cancer cases — a databank that would be useful in health schemes for cancer patients in future.
As per plan, a softwarebased system would enable medical centres to register patient details on the basis of national identity cards such as Adhaar or the voter ID card. Since the ID numbers on these cards are unique, there will be no duplicity in the count.
“The process of developing the software and selecting the ID card is on. The card should be one that is acceptable to the central and state governments so that data can be shared by both,” said Dr DC Jain, deputy director general, health services, union ministry of health and family welfare.
Dr Jain, who was in the city to attend the academic meet on cancer updates at the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences on Monday, said the aim was to have a nearaccurate count of patients.
“The ICMR has done some work through their cancer registry programme. But there is no accurate cancer patient data in India which is a big problem,” he said while addressing the inaugural session of the programme.
Dr Jain said institutes that are working in the field of cancer treatment should make awareness a part of their agenda and conduct activities in nearby places so that awareness on early diagnosis and treatment of cancer can be spread.
{{/usCountry}}Dr Jain said institutes that are working in the field of cancer treatment should make awareness a part of their agenda and conduct activities in nearby places so that awareness on early diagnosis and treatment of cancer can be spread.
{{/usCountry}}Director of the institute Dr MC Pant said that breast and cervical cancer were the leading cancers among women in India and accounted for high morbidity in the state too.
DR MLB Bhatt, the organising chairperson of the event, said spreading awareness would benefit in the long run as early treatment also ensured that the cost of treatment does not go up.