Linkage of cancer registration with cancer treatment in predominantly rural district: A model form Sangrur district, Punjab state, India

Background: The Punjab state health administration has approached to Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai, to tackle the cancer problem of the state and requested to provide the support in strengthening the cancer care services. To understand the magnitude of the cancer, population-based cancer registry at Sangrur was established in 2013. Objective: The objective of the study is to show that the population-based rural cancer registration is the way to develop the infrastructure for cancer treatment a model from Sangrur district, Punjab State, India. Methods: Population-based cancer registry staff has visited several hospitals and pathology laboratories, and also, they have interaction with the village leaders for cancer case registration. The cancer treatment facility was not available in the district. The registry has reported that for the cancer treatment, a patient from these areas travels to Patiala, Bhatinda, Faridkot, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, and New Delhi and to the neighboring state Rajasthan. It was felt that there is dire need of cancer treatment facility in the district. Based on the information provided by the rural cancer registry, the Government of Punjab and TMC have established Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital (HBCH), Sangrur. The hospital has started functioning since January 2015. Results: In the 2-year period (2013–2014), the cancer registry has registered 1735 cancer incidence cases (808 males and 927 females). The age-adjusted incidence rate for males was 46.7/100,000, and for females, it was 57.6/100,000. The rates of the rural area of Sangrur are in comparison with other rural registries. The cancer registry data were utilized in planning the cancer care services in the Sangrur district. Conclusion: Population-based cancer registry with cancer treatment facility and HBCH with mentoring at Sangrur district in Punjab state could be an ideal potential model for the establishing and augmenting of cancer care services in the rural population in India.