Raipur: In view of the rising number of cancer cases in Chhattisgarh, the state government has taken a significant step by classifying cancer as a ‘notified disease.’ This means that reporting every detected case of cancer to the government is now mandatory. The Department of Public Health and Family Welfare has issued a notification to this effect.
Under the new system, government and private hospitals, medical colleges, pathology and radiology labs, diagnostic centers, and other institutions involved in cancer diagnosis and treatment are required to report every confirmed or suspected case of cancer following a prescribed procedure.
Reporting Required Within One Month of Detection
Once cancer is confirmed in a patient, the concerned health institution must report the details within one month of the diagnosis. If cancer is suspected in a patient, the treating doctor must refer them for the necessary tests.
Upon confirmation of cancer through testing, the pathologist is required to fill out a prescribed cancer notification form and submit the information to the relevant authority within the stipulated timeframe.
Reporting to Cancer Registry Was Previously Voluntary
According to the government, data on cancer cases in the state was previously recorded primarily on a voluntary basis through the cancer registry. This often resulted in many cases not being included in the records.
With the implementation of the new system, data regarding cancer cases will be recorded on a centralized portal. This will facilitate the creation of more organized and comprehensive data on cancer cases across the state.
Assistance in Formulating Cancer Prevention and Treatment Strategies
The government will utilize this data to formulate policies for cancer prevention and control. Additionally, the information will be used to expand treatment facilities and develop centers for cancer research and training.
The new system will enable monitoring of the number of cancer cases, types of the disease, its spread, and trends in cancer-related mortality. Furthermore, it will allow for the assessment of the effectiveness of government programs related to cancer screening and treatment. Day-care chemotherapy centers operational in 26 districts
Currently, three government cancer hospitals and two government radiotherapy units are operational in Chhattisgarh. Additionally, district-level day-care chemotherapy centers are functioning across 26 districts of the state. A proposal has been submitted to launch similar centers in five more districts.
Screening facilities for the early detection of cancer are also being made available at health centers.
Government and private health institutions included in the scope
The new system for cancer reporting will apply to state and central government hospitals, private hospitals, dispensaries, health institutions, and both government and private medical colleges.
Furthermore, pathology and hematology labs, imaging centers, diagnostic centers, and NGOs involved in cancer care will also fall under this ambit. It will be the responsibility of doctors and pathologists involved in cancer diagnosis and treatment to provide information on detected cases to the government within the prescribed timeframe.
17,611 cancer cases recorded in two and a half years
The rising number of cancer cases in the state is evident from the recorded data. Between April 1, 2024, and June 2026, 17,611 cancer cases were registered in Chhattisgarh.
These include 4,465 cases of oral cancer, 210 of throat cancer, 252 of tongue cancer, 1,038 of lung cancer, 2,633 of breast cancer, 2,200 of uterine cancer, and 2,560 of stomach cancer. Additionally, 4,253 cases of other types of cancer were recorded.
The government expects that the implementation of the mandatory reporting system will yield more accurate data on cancer cases in the state, enabling better planning for prevention, screening, treatment, and healthcare facilities.
