NEW DELHI: India’s cancer burden is steadily rising, and with it, the financial burden too. The findings published in Lancet states that out-of-pocket expenses for cancer treatment range from Rs 39,085 to Rs 93,000 per hospitalisation in private facilities — a staggering amount considering the average monthly labour income is Rs 11,233.
Even though the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana provides a coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year, many incur catastrophic health expenses, states the findings titled ‘Intersectionality of cancer disparities in South Asia’.
The study points out that in low and middle income countries such as India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, poverty and income inequalities severely restrict access to cancer care. It highlights that cancer continues to be a daunting public health challenge for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which accounts for 9·3 per cent of new cancer diagnoses globally and bears 12 per cent of the total disease-related deaths.
“In India and Nepal, marginalised populations such as Dalits and ethnic minorities face systemic barriers due to sociopolitical discrimination and the legacy of the caste system. In India, Dalits have some of the worst health outcomes. As many as 22 affirmative action policies have been implemented to reduce these disparities in public services, but their effect on healthcare remains minimal due to poor implementation,” the report says adding that discrimination against low-caste communities limits their access to healthcare services, and perpetuates inter-generational poor health.
“Cancer awareness is often minimal. In rural north India, only 20·6 per cent (42/204) of participants in a study knew that breast cancer was the most common cancer in the country, and over half (111/204) were unaware of key warning signs that should prompt medical attention. Although 71·6 per cent (146/204) recognised tobacco as a risk factor, awareness of other risks was far lower,” states the research.
The study included researchers from Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, Tata Memorial Centre and Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai.
India has a high burden of cervical cancer, with 132,000 new cases and 74,000 deaths annually. Cultural factors, such as early marriage, stigma around sexual health, and low HPV vaccination access, exacerbate the problem. Only 2 per cent (172/8574) of Indian women aged 30–49 are screened for cervical cancer, as per the report.
In India, people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity, particularly LGBTQ+ report high rates of mental health issues and increased susceptibility to diseases such as HIV, which adds to their cancer risk, adds the study.
SAARC is composed of eight low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) which include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.