Over 40 lakh people screened for cancers under Gruha Arogya scheme

Since the State Health Department extended its Gruha Arogya scheme across Karnataka in August, over 40 lakh people in rural areas have been screened for oral, breast, and cervical cancers. According to Health Department data, between August 1 and October 31, as many as 16,277 people were suspected to have cancer symptoms and referred to higher facilities for further evaluation. Of them, 552 have been diagnosed with these cancers.

The initiative, aimed at early detection and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among the rural population aged above 30 years, targets 1.67 crore people.

While the Gruha Arogya scheme was formally launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in October last year, it was initially piloted in Kolar district, where dedicated health teams conducted door-to-door screening for major NCDs. Following its success, the scheme was scaled up to cover all districts.

Door-to-door screening

During the pilot phase, screening was carried out for diabetes, hypertension, and three common cancers — oral, breast, and cervical — in individuals aged 30 and above. Raghunandan, State Deputy Director (NCD), said over 36,000 rural ASHAs are now conducting door-to-door visits to raise awareness and encourage health checks at Ayushman Health and Wellness Centres.

Community Health Officers (CHOs) are screening for 14 NCDs and recording the data on the NCD portal. Between August and October, 23.23 lakh people were screened for oral cancer, with 7,958 suspected cases and 164 confirmed diagnoses. For breast cancer, 9.49 lakh women were screened, 4,331 suspected, and 132 confirmed. In the case of cervical cancer, 7.32 lakh women were screened, 3,988 suspected, and 256 diagnosed.

Dr. Raghunandan said those diagnosed are being referred to Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST)-empanelled tertiary care centres for further investigations and treatment. “Free medication and regular follow-up care are being provided at the nearest Ayushman Health and Wellness Centres,” he said.

The Gruha Arogya scheme also covers other major NCDs such as diabetic foot, mental health disorders, neurological disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetic retinopathy, chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and anaemia among individuals aged 19 to 29 years.

Cancer burden

According to the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research–Indian Council of Medical Research (NCDIR–ICMR) estimates published in JAMA 2025, India recorded an estimated 15.62 lakh new cancer cases and 8.74 lakh deaths in 2024, with breast, cervical, oral, and lung cancers being the leading types.

In Karnataka, an estimated 87,855 new cancer cases and 26,516 deaths were reported in 2024. Of these, 25% (21,898 cases) were tobacco-related. Among men, 37% of the 39,170 cases were linked to tobacco use, while women accounted for 48,685 cases, of which 15% were tobacco-related, according to data from the Population Based Cancer Registry maintained at the State-run Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (KMIO).

In Bengaluru city, the estimated cancer incidence for 2024 stood at 15,153 cases, with 3,826 deaths. Tobacco-related cancers made up 24.1% of all cases, with a higher proportion among men (36.6%) compared to women (15.2%).

At Kidwai Institute, as many as 21,881 new cancer cases were registered in 2024, of which 12,930 were histologically or cytologically confirmed. Notably, 3,939 (30.5%) of these were tobacco-related, underscoring the continued impact of tobacco use on the State’s cancer burden.