Telangana government has declared cancer as a notifiable disease, making it mandatory for all healthcare providers to report diagnosed cases. This move aims to build a robust surveillance system to monitor the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and improve cancer care planning.
Initiative Highlights
- All government & private hospitals, labs, clinics must report cancer cases
- Reporting timeline: Within 1 month of diagnosis
- Covers both:
- In-situ (pre-cancerous) cases
- Invasive cancers
- Also includes registrars of births and deaths
Objective of Initiative
- Create a centralised cancer registry
- Accurately estimate incidence and prevalence
- Enable evidence-based policy making
- Improve resource allocation for treatment, palliative & rehabilitative care
Institutional Framework
- Mehdi Nawaz Jung Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre designated as Centre of Excellence
- Responsibilities:
- Data validation
- Coordination with National Cancer Registry
- Digital system:
- Healthcare institutions will get login credentials
- Reporting via dedicated state portal
- Data confidentiality ensured
What is a Notifiable Disease?
A notifiable disease is one that must be reported to government authorities to enable surveillance and control.
In Telangana:
- Mandatory reporting by:
- Hospitals (public & private)
- Laboratories
- Healthcare facilities
- Registrars
- Purpose: Build a real-time, reliable database of disease burden
Why This Move Matters
- Addresses lack of reliable cancer data in India
- Helps to:
- Identify high-risk regions
- Track disease trends
- Strengthen screening programmes
- Improve health infrastructure planning
Cancer Burden in India
- Top 5 cancers account for ~47.2% of total cases
- Common cancers:
- Women: Breast & cervical cancer
- Men: Oral & lung cancer
- Many cancers are preventable or treatable if detected early
Challenges in Cancer Care (India)
- Late detection (diagnosis at advanced stages)
- High mortality rates
- Regional disparities (lifestyle, environment)
- High treatment costs
- Social stigma delaying treatment
- Shortage of specialists and infrastructure