Debate on making cancer a Notifiable Disease
Context:
After the recent inclusion of snakebite as a notifiable disease in 2024, there is an increasing demand to make cancer a notifiable disease in India.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Health, Government policies and interventions)
Mains Question:
Discuss the merits and challenges of making cancer a notifiable disease in India. How can a balanced policy approach improve cancer surveillance and treatment outcomes? (250 words)
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is a Notifiable Disease?
- The Debate Over Making Cancer Notifiable
- Way forward
What is a Notifiable Disease?
- Notifiable diseases are those diseases that must be reported to the government by the healthcare providers.
- It is made compulsory so that the government can ensure epidemiological tracking and early intervention.
- It is governed under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, for disease reporting and management.
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) mandates notification for certain diseases to strengthen global disease surveillance and control.
- Examples of Notifiable Diseases: tuberculosis, malaria, and COVID-19 due to their potential to spread.
- Snakebite was classified as notifiable despite being non-communicable, setting a precedent for considering other non-communicable diseases.
The Debate Over Making Cancer Notifiable
Arguments in Favor
- Better Data Collection
- The National Cancer Registry Program (NCRP) covers only 16% of India’s population, leading to incomplete cancer data.
- A parliamentary committee highlighted the need for more comprehensive data for effective cancer control.
- Prevention and Early Intervention
- Nearly 50% of cancer deaths are preventable by controlling risk factors like smoking, air pollution, and asbestos exposure.
- Real-time data on cancer incidence and mortality would help design targeted interventions.
- State-Level Success
- 17 states have already made cancer a notifiable disease through administrative orders.
- High-incidence states like Kerala and Mizoram could benefit from national-level mandates.
- Global Examples
- Countries like Australia and the United Kingdom have made cancer notifiable, ensuring accurate data and better healthcare planning.
- Certain Cancers Spread Through Viruses
- Cancers linked to viruses, such as cervical cancer (caused by HPV), could be classified as “documentable diseases” for mandatory tracking.
Arguments Against
- Non-Communicable Nature
- Unlike infectious diseases, cancer is not contagious, making mandatory notification less relevant for immediate public health response.
- Privacy and Stigma
- Reporting obligations could deter people from seeking diagnosis due to social stigma and privacy concerns.
- Healthcare Burden
- Mandatory notification may increase the administrative load on healthcare providers.
- Cancer requires long-term treatment, whereas notifiable diseases typically involve short-term public health responses.
Way Forward
- In order to strengthen data integration, the government should integrate cancer data with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) for easy tracking.
- Increase the number of universal screening centres for high-risk cancers and empower local health workers like ASHA to report cases and raise awareness.
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