Question

Discuss the current status of cancer registry in India.

Hint:

Cancer registries in India are vital for cancer surveillance and improving healthcare delivery, but greater coverage in rural areas and improvements in data quality are needed for more accurate cancer burden assessment.

Answer 1

Cancer registries are crucial for understanding the burden of cancer, identifying high-risk populations, and formulating appropriate healthcare strategies. In India, the cancer registry system plays a pivotal role in cancer surveillance, providing critical data on incidence, mortality, and survival rates.
Step 1: National Cancer Registry Program (NCRP):
The National Cancer Registry Program (NCRP) is the main organization for cancer data collection in India. It is managed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and aims to collect reliable data on the incidence of cancer across the country. The NCRP includes multiple population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) and hospital-based cancer registries (HBCRs) throughout India.
Step 2: Key Cancer Registries:
1. Population-Based Cancer Registries (PBCR): These registries collect data on cancer incidence from specific geographic areas. Major PBCRs are located in cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, and Kolkata, with the goal of capturing representative data for larger populations.
2. Hospital-Based Cancer Registries (HBCR): These registries focus on collecting data from cancer patients attending specific hospitals. They are an essential resource for evaluating treatment outcomes and patient demographics.
3. Urban and Rural Coverage: While urban areas have relatively comprehensive coverage, rural areas are underrepresented, which may lead to underestimation of the cancer burden in these populations.
Step 3: Challenges in Cancer Registration in India:
1. Incomplete Reporting: A significant proportion of cancer cases, especially in rural areas, go unreported due to lack of access to healthcare services.
2. Data Quality: Data collection in India faces challenges related to inconsistent reporting, variable quality of data, and lack of uniformity in data classification.
3. Resource Constraints: The cancer registry system in India suffers from limited funding, infrastructure, and trained personnel, particularly in remote areas.
Step 4: Current Status and Improvements:
India has made significant strides in improving its cancer registry system, with more hospitals and institutions participating in national registries. Advances in technology, such as electronic data collection and centralization of data, have improved data accuracy and accessibility.