Even two months after cancer became a notifiable disease in the State, the government has not drawn up a concrete road map to ensure that pathological labs and hospitals mandatorily report cases of cancer.
Many hospital heads that The Hindu spoke to said the State government had not sent out clear-cut guidelines for reporting cancer cases. Some others mentioned that while they were aware of a cancer registry being maintained, they were not aware that it was made a notifiable disease.
The State government in July had made cancer a notifiable disease and had said that starting August 1, all institutions should report cancer cases through the online software given by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) within a week from the date of diagnosis. However, this remains on paper.
The State government had mooted the idea as early diagnosis of cancer would help in treatment and in planning preventive strategies.
Panel yet to be formed
Experts and public health specialists point out the urgent need to constitute the Karnataka Cancer Control Committee that would oversee the implementation of the project.
Nandakumar, Head of the National Centre for Disease Informatics Centre and Research – national cancer registry programme, ICMR said there was no “significant” increase in the number of cancer cases reported to them before and after the notification. There was a need to ensure at least 90 per cent of the cases are reported to ensure availability of quality data with scientific basis, he said.
Sources in the department highlighted the need for workshop and training programmes to ensure the project is implemented. Acknowledging the delay, Health Minister U.T. Khader said the committee would be set up at the earliest.
Two months after making cancer notifiable, road map is yet to be drawn
