Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), a centrally sponsored scheme, provides health insurance coverage to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and including other 11 categories of Unorganized Workers (UOWs) who are enrolled under the scheme. Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS) is also implemented w.e.f. 01.04.2016. Under this, health coverage is available for Rs.30,000/- per annum per senior citizen for treatment packages, over and above RSBY entitlement. Each family enrolled in the scheme is entitled for hospitalization benefits in Government empanelled hospitals (including both private and public). RSBY and SCHIS cover oncology treatment within prescribed benefits ceiling. Under comprehensive Primary Healthcare, operational guidelines for Prevention, Screening and Control of Common Non-Communicable Diseases: Hypertension, Diabetes and Common Cancers (Oral, Breast, Cervix) have been issued under National Health Mission which envisage preparation of Health Cards for individuals above 30 years of age. These Cards primarily will be health records of individuals listing health issues/diseases/disabilities and exposures to risk factors of common NCDs including cancer. The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Smt Anupriya Patel stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here.
Non Introduction of New Oncology Medicines
Fifteen anticancer drugs have been approved by the Central Licensing Authority i.e. the Drugs Controller General (India) for import/manufacture and marketing in the country during the period 2010-2014. Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Government for improving healthcare including prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Cancer. The objectives of National Programme for prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) being implemented under National Health Mission (NHM) for interventions upto district level including awareness generation for Cancer prevention, screening, early detection and referral to an appropriate level institution for treatment. Thetreatment of Cancer in many of State and Centre Government institutions is free for BPL patients and subsidized for others. As and when an application for grant of permission for import/ manufacture and marketing of any new drug, including anticancer drugs, is received, it is evaluated in consultation with the Subject Expert Committees (SECs) and permission is granted in accordance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 and the applicable guidelines based on the recommendations of the Committee. Provisions are available under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 to grant permission to import/manufacture for marketing of new drugs, including certain types of anticancer drugs without local clinical trial under certain conditions in order to make such drugs available early in the country in public interest.