'Children first': Experts demand stronger policy, wider coverage for cancer care

Hailing the government for prioritising childhood cancer, experts have urged Health Minister J.P. Nadda and NITI Aayog Member V.K. Paul to intensify efforts towards a comprehensive National Childhood Cancer Management Policy (NC-CMP).

- TIKAM SHARMA

In a letter coinciding with National Children’s Day on 14 November, Poonam Bagai, Member of the ICMR Central Ethics Committee on Human Research and Childhood Cancer International’s WHO South-East Asia Representative, said such a policy would be a major step towards achieving 60 per cent survival for children with cancer by 2030.

Highlighting the shared responsibility to protect every child’s right to health, education and childhood, Bagai — Founder-Chairman of CanKids KidsCan and Vice-Chairman of Pal-lium India — said it was imperative to move ahead with the NCCMP, noting that the Rajya Sabha’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare had also recommended such an approach.

The Committee's 139th report, “Cancer Care Plan and Management: Prevention, Diagnosis, Research and Affordability of Cancer Treatment”, tabled in September 2022, stated: “The Government is in agreement with the view that the Ministry must work towards formulating a National Childhood Cancer Comprehensive Management Policy, which involves early diagnosis, shared care and integrated paediatric oncology palliative care across public health facilities.”