With 50,000 cancer cases each year, Kerala faces health crisis

Kerala is known for spectacular feats in the field of social development indicators and health, comparable to developed countries. But, recent reports reveal that an alarming increase in cancer cases is threatening to put its reputation in jeopardy. 
 

An average of 55, 000 new cases of cancer are registered yearly at Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. However, a consolidated list of a total number of cancer cases is not available. Further, those turning up for follow-ups are also not included in the list. 
 

According to a reply given for a Right to Information query by Kochi-based RTI activist Dhanaraj Subhash Chandran, the Health Department points to over 20,000 cancer deaths every year. The reply was given by junior superintendent at Health Department Sobha KR. 
 

As many as 1,800 cases were detected by the Cancer Care initiative of the Health Department. Of them, 800 cases were reported from rural areas. 
 

The state government conducts as many as 13 different programmes to detect cancer cases in the state. The Health Department runs non-communicable disease clinics in all District General Hospitals. Other than this, there are mobile clinics that identify lifestyle issues with people. These centres distribute insulin and other NCD drugs for free. 
 

A rough estimation is that as many as 2,50,000 people in the state are taking treatment for cancer in addition to 50,000 new additions each year. 

• cancer cases in Kerala
• Regional Cancer Centre
• cancer cases
• Cancer patients
• RTI
• lifestyle diseases