People living near river drains are at elevated risk of developing cancer: ICMR 

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The Indian Council of Medical Analysis (ICMR) has stated {that a} research carried out in 2024 and  revealed within the Indian Academy of Sciences on human well being risk assessments revealed that folks residing near river drains are extremely liable to developing most cancers, with hazard quotients noticed to be above threshold limits. Lead, iron, and aluminum exceeded permissible limits of the Central Air pollution Management Board.

The Union Minister of State for Well being and Household Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav acknowledged this in a written reply within the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Steps taken for most cancers therapy

Mr. Jadhav stated that with regard to the steps taken for the therapy of most cancers, the Central authorities is dedicated to bettering most cancers care and therapy accessibility by means of the implementation of the Strengthening of Tertiary Care Most cancers Amenities Scheme. Underneath this initiative, 19 State Most cancers Institutes (SCIs) and 20 Tertiary Care Most cancers Centres (TCCCs) have been accredited to offer superior diagnostic and therapy amenities together with the Nationwide Most cancers Institute in Jhajjar, Haryana. The second campus of the Chittaranjan Nationwide Most cancers Institute in Kolkata has additionally been established to additional improve most cancers care companies.

As well as, most cancers therapy amenities have been accredited in all 22 new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), which can supply complete diagnostic, medical, and surgical companies. The federal government will be certain that therapy in these hospitals is both free or extremely subsidised for the poor and needy, making important healthcare accessible to all.

As per the written reply most cancers therapy can be lined beneath the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY), which supplies as much as ₹5 lakh per household yearly for secondary and tertiary care. This scheme advantages roughly 55 crore folks (12.37 crore households) from the underside 40% of the inhabitants. Just lately, the PM-JAY prolonged well being protection to all senior residents aged 70 and above, regardless of earnings. The scheme contains over 200 packages encompassing greater than 500 procedures associated to Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, and Palliative Drugs throughout the Nationwide Well being Profit Package deal (HBP).

Devoted shops

To additional assist most cancers therapy, the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) has been launched to determine devoted shops often called Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs). As of February 28, 2025, a complete of 15,057 PMBJKs have been opened throughout the nation, offering high quality generic medicines at inexpensive costs. The scheme contains 2,047 varieties of medicines and 300 surgical gadgets, with 87 merchandise particularly accessible for most cancers therapy.

“Moreover, the Inexpensive Medicines and Dependable Implants for Remedy (AMRIT) initiative, launched by the Well being Ministry goals to offer inexpensive medicines for most cancers, cardiovascular illnesses, and different well being circumstances. As of January 31, 2025, there are 222 AMRIT Pharmacies throughout 29 States and Union Territories, providing over 6,500 medication, together with these for most cancers, at reductions of as much as 50% off market charges,’’ added the Minister.