GUWAHATI: A study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 2024 has revealed that people living near river drains face a significantly higher risk of developing cancer. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, recently presented these findings in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
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Published in the Indian Academy of Sciences, the study found that hazard quotients exceeded threshold limits, with lead, iron, and aluminium surpassing permissible levels set by the Central Pollution Control Board.
To address the issue, Jadhav stated that the central government is committed to enhancing cancer care and accessibility through initiatives such as the Strengthening of Tertiary Care Cancer Facilities Scheme. Under this scheme, 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCCs) have been approved.
The National Cancer Institute in Jhajjar, Haryana, and the second campus of the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata have also been established to expand cancer treatment services.
Additionally, cancer treatment facilities have been sanctioned in all 22 new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), which will provide diagnostic, medical, and surgical services. The government aims to make treatment in these hospitals either free or highly subsidised for economically weaker sections.
