SC asks states, UTs to declare cancer as notifiable disease for early detection

The Supreme Court has directed all states and union territories to consider declaring cancer as a "notifiable disease" to address the growing number of cancer cases in the country. This recommendation follows a public interest litigation filed by Anurag Srivastava, a former surgeon at All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Currently, 17 states and union territories have already notified cancer as a notifiable disease, but the court emphasized the need for a uniform policy across the nation.

The bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, stated that mandatory notification could help ensure accurate data, enable screening, and strengthen follow-up care for cancer patients. However, the Centre argued that cancer is a non-communicable, non-contagious chronic condition and that mandating its notification would be unsustainable and impractical.

The court acknowledged the Centre's concerns but noted that the Parliamentary Standing Committee had recommended making cancer a notifiable disease across India. The petition highlighted that cancer accounts for nearly 8-9% of deaths annually and is projected to increase significantly by 2035. The court also pointed out that the real incidence of cancer is likely to be much higher than the reported cases due to underreporting and the lack of a statutory framework for mandatory notification.