Azad said that the government has already launched a pilot project across 100 districts in 21 states for prevention and control of cancer, cardio-vascular diseases, stroke, and diabetes.
"India will be the first country that will screen its entire population for these diseases. The equipment for screening will be provided by the union health ministry besides chemotherapy of 100 patients per district at a cost of Rs.100,000," he said.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India currently has 27 lakh cancer patients while 11 lakh new cancer cases are reported every year.
Published 13 December 2011, 09:18 IST