Background
The National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) is India’s flagship cancer surveillance programme, launched in 1981 by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). It is coordinated through the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), Bengaluru, an institute under ICMR.
The programme was established to generate reliable data on the incidence, prevalence, mortality and patterns of cancer in India. It provides scientific evidence for planning cancer prevention, early detection and treatment strategies at both the national and state levels.
Key facts:
- Launched: 1981
- Implemented by: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
- Coordinating Centre: National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), Bengaluru
- Purpose: National cancer surveillance and evidence-based policymaking
Objectives and Components
The primary objective of the National Cancer Registry Programme is to provide authentic and systematic information on the burden of cancer across India. The data generated under the programme supports health planning, research and evaluation of cancer control initiatives.
The programme functions through two major types of cancer registries:
Population-Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs)
These registries collect data on all new cancer cases occurring within a defined population or geographical area. They help estimate cancer incidence, prevalence, mortality and survival trends and are useful for understanding the overall cancer burden in a region.
Hospital-Based Cancer Registries (HBCRs)
These registries collect information from individual hospitals on patients diagnosed and treated for cancer. They provide insights into clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, stage at diagnosis and patient outcomes, supporting hospital management and clinical research.
Together, PBCRs and HBCRs provide comprehensive information for cancer surveillance and policy formulation.
Significance
The National Cancer Registry Programme forms the backbone of cancer surveillance in India.
Its importance lies in:
- Estimating the national and regional burden of cancer.
- Identifying geographic variations and high-risk populations.
- Supporting evidence-based cancer control policies.
- Assisting in planning screening, diagnostic and treatment facilities.
- Monitoring long-term trends in cancer incidence and mortality.
- Supporting epidemiological and clinical research.
- Providing reliable Indian data for international cancer databases and comparative studies.
The programme also helps policymakers assess the effectiveness of cancer prevention and early detection initiatives over time.
Challenges and Way Forward
Despite significant progress, the programme faces several challenges.
Major challenges include:
- Uneven geographical coverage of cancer registries.
- Under-reporting of cases, especially from rural and remote areas.
- Variations in the quality and completeness of data collection.
- Limited integration with digital health information systems.
- Shortage of trained personnel for cancer registration and surveillance.
To strengthen the programme, India should:
- Expand Population-Based Cancer Registries to underserved regions.
- Improve integration with digital health records and hospital information systems.
- Enhance data quality through regular training and standardisation.
- Promote timely reporting from both public and private healthcare facilities.
- Strengthen collaboration between NCRP, State Governments and national health programmes.
A robust National Cancer Registry Programme is essential for understanding India’s changing cancer burden and for designing effective policies on cancer prevention, early diagnosis and treatment.
