Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said today the Government has decided to conduct screening on the entire population of the country for cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and strokes for early detection and treatment of the ailments.

“The screening will be done in the next five years,” he said in response to a query in the Rajya Sabha during question hour.

The minister said that a pilot project has already been launched for the purpose in 100 districts of 21 states and asserted that India would be the first country in the world to screen the entire population in next five years for prevention and early detection of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and strokes.

Explaining that the government has provided equipment and human resource for detection and treatment of the said diseases, Azad said that the number of cancer patients in India was put at 27 lakh by the Indian Council of Medical Research.

“Every year, 11 lakh people are attracting the disease and 5 lakh people are dying of it,” he said, adding that the government provides free cancer treatment for people living Below Poverty Line (BPL). Under Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi, the government will provide up to Rs 1.5 lakh per case as assistance to all BPL patients, he said.

“Where the assistance is needed over and above the Rs 1.5 lakh per case, financial assistance will be provided by the health ministry.

Apart from the above assistance, an amount of Rs.50, 000 would be given to the family of the each cancer patient. “The only condition attached to the scheme is that the treatment must be taken in government hospitals,” he said, adding that during the current year, 2,202 cancer patients have been given financial help.  (JUBS)