Alarmed by ever increasing cases of cancer the world over, the World Health Organization (WHO) drawn some guiding principles for formulation of National Cancer Control Programs in Developing Countries. It was formulated during a Joint WHO / EURO meeting held at Geneva on 4-7 October 1983. As per that National Cancer Policy or program of each country was to include action regarding:
? tobacco smoking,
? control of carcinogens other than tobacco,
? early detection of cancer,
? cancer therapy,
? after care and pain relief, and
? public education (e.g. in schools).

Accordingly a National Cancer Control Program (NCCP) for India was drawn out and published in July 1984. The report is totally silent on control of carcinogens other than tobacco. It did not even provide a list of such carcinogens.

As per this publication the goal of the NCCP would be:

? The primary prevention of tobacco related cancers;
? Secondary prevention (early diagnosis and treatment) of cancer of the uterine cervix); and
? Extension and strengthening of therapeutic services including pain relief, on a national scale through regional cancer centers and medical colleges (including dental colleges).

In the whole NCCP there is neither any role for other branches of medicines like Ayurveda, Sidha, Unany, Yoga, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, etc. nor any concern for control of carcinogens other than tobacco. This in itself was a clear indication of Government apathy towards cancer prevention and control.

An eight-member Core Committee consisting of representatives of only Allopathic System of Medicine - 3 Pathologists, 2 Radiotherapists, 2 Surgeons and 1 General Physician, drafted the NCCP. Surprisingly there were no representatives from other branches of Medicines / Health Sciences like Ayurveda, Yoga, Sidha, Unany, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, etc. Also, there were no representatives from Epidemiology and Community Medicine or Social and Preventive Medicine (SPM). With due respect to all Honorable Members of the Core Committee that drafted NCCP it must be said that such divide and rule may help develop new political sciences, but it will not at all help the development of medical / health sciences and the check / control of a dreadful degenerative disease like cancer.

Health has to be the concern and commitment of all citizens of India. Chalking out policies and programs for health care should not be left in the hands of a few specialists and super-specialists alone. There has to be adequate other representations. There has to be non-medical representations as well as representations from other systems and branches of medicine. It is worthy to note here that American Cancer Society was once reorganized to provide equal medical and non-medical representation.

This sort of governmental apathy in Indian cancer crusade will no doubt affect health care, especially prevention of a dreadful disease like cancer. When we talk of health and prevention of a disease, it should not be the domain of a particular system of medicine or branch of medicine.

In the National Health Policy under “Our Heritage”, it is mentioned:
“India has a rich, centuries-old heritage of medical and health sciences. The philosophy of Ayurveda and surgical skills enunciated by Charaka and Shushruta bear testimony to our ancient tradition in the scientific health care of our people. The approach of our ancient medical systems was of a holistic nature, which looks into account of human health and disease.”
Still while chalking out a National Cancer Control Program (NCCP) Ayurveda was ignored and other branches of medical / health sciences were ignored. This will not help the holistic health care and achieving health for all. If India is to achieve health for all even by 3000 A.D., the present health care management approach has to change considerably and increased budgetary allocations to be made for preventive health care as well as for Indian systems of medical / health sciences like Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Sidha, Unany, etc.