Data mentioned by Dr. Kalvakuntla Sanjay showed that the death rate from cervical cancer has increased from 948 in 2014 to 1,202 in 2023.
Dr. Kalvakuntla Sanjay said the state already has the infrastructure required to carry out such programs which will help reduce cancer cases in future generations
Dr Kalvakuntla Sanjay, BRS MLA from Korutla constituency in Telangana, said cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in India and he strongly advocated for making free vaccination and screening mandatory in the state.
Sanjay, while speaking at the recently concluded budget session of Telangana Assembly, mentioned that data showed that cervical cancer mortality has increased from 948 in 2014 to 1,202 in 2023.
Speaking to News18, he said Telangana already has the infrastructure required to carry out such a scheme.
“We have the highest number of doctors and a hospital in every district in Telangana. Apart from primary, secondary and tertiary health centres, we also have quaternary centers and 'basthi dawakhanas'. The two most effective ways to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer are vaccination and screening. We already have a vaccine that is 95-99% effective. It can be given to girls and women aged 9 to 26 years. The vaccine is given to women before they have sex. For women above this age range, screening can be done with a simple Pap smear test,” the spine surgeon said.
Highlighting the low cancer screening rates in India, the doctor added, “ICMR data shows that only 1-2% of the Indian population undergoes screening programs for oral, cervical and breast cancer. Since Screening is delayed and more Indians are screened for oral, cervical and breast cancers. In India, only one percent of cervical cancer cases are detected before symptoms are reported, compared to the United States. The figure is 73% in the UK, 70% in the UK and 43% in China.
The MLA said: “While the incidence of cancer in India is lower than in the US and Europe, the number of deaths is much higher due to lack of screening. If we start screening now, we can reduce cancer in the next generation.
Highlighting the work done by the previous Telangana government, the doctor said, “In the last decade, we have seen a revolutionary change in healthcare in Telangana. We have With the highest number of medical students in the population and the highest number of PG seats per one lakh population, Telangana has oxygen supply for every bed now that we have the infrastructure, we should start vaccination immediately. and screening procedures. After the age of 35, every woman should undergo a Pap smear test. There is now a Telangana diagnostic center in every district and all diagnostic tests are done free of charge.
