Punjab Declares Cancer Notifiable Under Epidemic Act

Mandatory Reporting and Legal Consequences

Effective immediately, any medical facility in Punjab that confirms a cancer diagnosis is now legally obligated to report the case to the Department of Health and Family Welfare. As reported by thefactnews on July 18, 2026, the state government has invoked the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, to enforce this new transparency mandate. Under Section 3 of the Act, institutions that attempt to conceal patient data face potential fines and imprisonment. The government has made it clear that this order is implemented across the state with immediate effect and that no negligence in reporting will be tolerated.

The scope of this order is broad. It applies not only to major government hospitals and renowned institutes like PGI Chandigarh, AIIMS Bathinda, ESI, Railway Hospitals, and the Homi Bhabha Cancer Centre, but also to every small and large private clinic, nursing home, AYUSH hospital, pathology and radiology lab, and NGOs maintaining patient records. Even insurance companies settling cancer claims are required to adhere to the new reporting protocols. These facilities must maintain a special Cancer Register and submit its report every month to the Civil Surgeon of their respective districts.

Data Privacy and the Digital Registry

To streamline this process, the Health Department is developing a state-of-the-art digital portal. All clinical establishments—whether they are hospitals, labs, or imaging centers—are required to complete mandatory self-registration on this platform and input patient details in a standardized, prescribed format. While the reporting requirements are strict, the government has provided assurances regarding patient confidentiality. Officials stated that patient identity and medical history will be kept completely confidential, and this data will be used exclusively for research, reporting to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and formulating cancer control policies.

At the state level, the Health Directorate will monitor the entire process to ensure that the benefits of the Chief Minister Punjab Cancer Relief Fund Scheme reach the right patients. The responsibility for ground-level supervision has been assigned to the Civil Surgeons of the districts. The collected data will be analyzed by a technical committee and shared with the Government of India as the State Cancer Registry.

The Scale of the Cancer Crisis in Punjab

The move comes as Punjab grapples with high rates of the disease, which remains highly alarming. According to a National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) report presented in the Rajya Sabha by the Union Health Ministry in March 2026, the state records approximately 43,196 new cancer cases annually. The death toll is significant, with around 24,886 people losing their lives to the disease every year.

Districts such as Bathinda, Sangrur, Ludhiana, and Amritsar, which comprise the cancer belt of the Malwa region, are bearing the maximum brunt of the crisis. Primary causes are attributed to heavy metal pollution in the soil and drinking water, alongside the indiscriminate use of agricultural pesticides. In response to these challenges, the Punjab government provides financial assistance of ₹1.5 lakh to patients under the Chief Minister Cancer Relief Fund, as well as cashless treatment facilities of up to ₹10 lakh in major cancer institutes under the Chief Minister Health Insurance Scheme. Residents or patients seeking clarity on these new requirements are encouraged to consult with qualified medical professionals or district health authorities.

Sources: Bhaskar, thefactnews.in.