Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 9: India recorded a concerning increase in cancer cases in 2024, with over 15.3 lakh people diagnosed, marking the highest annual figure to date, according to Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav.
Responding to a query in the Lok Sabha, Jadhav cited data from the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Cancer Registry Programme (ICMR-NCRP), which estimates that 15,33,055 new cancer cases have been reported this year alone.
The data reveals a steady rise in cancer incidence over recent years:
• 13.5 lakh cases in 2019
• 13.9 lakh in 2020
• 14.2 lakh in 2021
• 14.6 lakh in 2022
• 14.9 lakh in 2023
• 15.3 lakh projected in 2024
Cancer-related deaths have also climbed, with 8.2 lakh deaths recorded in 2023, the highest in the past five years. This compares to 7.5 lakh deaths in 2019, 7.7 lakh in 2020, 7.8 lakh in 2021, and over 8 lakh in 2022.
Jadhav attributed the rise to several factors:
• Improved diagnostic tools and early detection
• Higher life expectancy and ageing population
• Greater health awareness and health-seeking behaviour
• Lifestyle-related risk factors including tobacco and alcohol use, sedentary habits, unhealthy diets, and excessive consumption of salt, sugar, and saturated fats
In response to this growing health crisis, the government is scaling up its National Programme for Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). This programme aims to reduce premature deaths and manage the burden of cancer and other NCDs through early detection, timely treatment, public awareness, and capacity building at all levels of the healthcare system.
“The programme focuses on promoting healthier lifestyles, enhancing early diagnosis, and strengthening infrastructure for effective treatment and rehabilitation,” Jadhav stated.
With cancer cases on the rise, experts stress the need for urgent public health interventions, lifestyle modifications, and accessible cancer care across India.