SC seeks Centre’s response on plea to declare cancer a nationwide notifiable disease
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Health policy & public health· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The Supreme Court issued notices to the Union Health Ministry and state governments regarding a petition by Dr. Anurag Shrivastava seeking to declare cancer a nationwide notifiable disease.
Background
The petition was filed by retired AIIMS oncologist Dr. Anurag Shrivastava. It argues that the lack of systematic cancer surveillance across India creates a 'data black hole' that hinders early detection and effective policymaking.
Facts for Prelims
- PostDr. Anurag Shrivastava: Retired AIIMS oncologist who filed the petition
- FactNotifiable disease: A disease that must be reported to health authorities for surveillance and control
- BodyUnion Health Ministry: The central body responsible for national health policy and disease surveillance
For Mains
Q. Discuss the significance of a robust disease surveillance mechanism in formulating effective public health policies and resource allocation in India.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Data-driven governance: Addressing the 'data black hole' to ensure evidence-based resource allocation for oncology
- Inter-state inconsistency: Standardizing disease notification protocols across states and Union Territories
- Early detection bottleneck: Linking mandatory reporting to improved clinical outcomes and public health response
Keywords: Disease Surveillance · Public Health Policy · Data-driven Governance · Resource Allocation · Notifiable Disease
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