As per Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), based upon the data provided by National Cancer Registry Programme, the estimated number of incidence (new cancer cases) for the year 2035 is about 1.9 million (based on the reports on Time Trend in Cancer Incidence Rates 1982-2010 and 2009-2011 Population Based Cancer Registry Reports). As per the data provided by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the mortality due to cancer cases is estimated to be 0.8 million for the year 2035. (Based on Cancer incidence cases and Pooled Mortality to Incidence (M/I) ratio of Mumbai data (2009-2011) report).
There is no central data available to ascertain the quantum of shortage of cancer specialists in the country. However, to increase the number of seats in Super speciality courses in Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology and broad speciality course in Radiotherapy, the ratio of number of Post-Graduate (PG) teachers to the number of students to be admitted has been now increased to 1:3 for a Professor subject to a maximum of 6 PG seats per unit per academic year. Human Resource Development is also focus under PradhanMantriSwasthyaSurakshaYojna (PMSSY). The National Cancer Institute at Jhajjar and 2nd campus of Chittranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata also have a mandate for capacity building. The mandate of State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) supported under National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCS) includes enhancing of trained manpower for cancer. The Health Minister stated this in a written reply in the RajyaSabha here today.