The Supreme Court has directed 19 States and Union Territories that have not yet declared cancer a notifiable disease to consider doing so, highlighting the need for a uniform national policy on mandatory cancer reporting. The move is expected to strengthen cancer surveillance, improve data collection and support earlier diagnosis across India.

The direction came while the apex court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking nationwide notification of cancer as a notifiable disease.

Supreme Court seeks uniform cancer reporting

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana questioned why a uniform framework for mandatory cancer reporting could not be implemented across all States and Union Territories.

Representing the Centre, the Additional Solicitor General informed the court that health falls under the State List, making disease notification primarily the responsibility of state governments.

The court noted that 17 States and UTs have already declared cancer a notified disease following recommendations made by a Parliamentary Standing Committee. It directed the remaining States and UTs to examine those recommendations and submit compliance affidavits before the court.

Why declaring cancer a notifiable disease matters

A notifiable disease is one that healthcare providers are legally required to report to government authorities whenever a case is diagnosed.

Making cancer a notifiable disease could:

• Improve nationwide cancer surveillance
• Enable earlier detection through better tracking
• Help governments plan healthcare infrastructure
• Improve allocation of medicines and treatment facilities
• Create more reliable cancer statistics for policymaking

Experts believe uniform reporting would also reduce regional disparities in cancer data.

What the PIL says

The PIL, filed in November 2025 by a former Head of the Department of Surgical Disciplines at AIIMS, New Delhi, argues that India's cancer-control framework suffers because there is no uniform nationwide reporting mechanism.

According to the petition, different notification policies across States have resulted in fragmented data, weaker surveillance systems and delays in identifying disease trends.

The petitioner also pointed out that the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR) National Cancer Registry Programme currently covers only around 10% of India's population, while rural coverage remains extremely limited.

The petition has sought greater representation from states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha in population-based cancer registries.

Key demands made in the petition

Apart from nationwide notification of cancer, the PIL has sought several reforms, including:

• A centralised real-time digital cancer registry similar to the CoWIN platform
• Integration of cancer records with Ayushman Bharat, state insurance schemes and hospital databases
• Nationwide cancer screening at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs)
• Expansion of Population-Based Cancer Registries across all states
• Affordable access to evidence-based cancer treatment
• A National Cancer Care Fund for poor patients
• Stronger death certification and cancer death audits
• Action against misinformation and unverified alternative cancer treatments

Why this matters

India continues to witness a rising burden of cancer cases, making accurate reporting increasingly important for public health planning.

A nationwide reporting system would allow governments to identify disease patterns faster, improve screening programmes and allocate healthcare resources more effectively. It could also support research and strengthen long-term cancer prevention strategies.

The Supreme Court's latest direction does not automatically make cancer a notifiable disease across the country. Instead, it asks the remaining States and Union Territories to consider doing so and report their decision before the court.

FAQs

What is a notifiable disease?

A notifiable disease is a disease that doctors, hospitals and laboratories are legally required to report to government health authorities after diagnosis.

Why does the Supreme Court want cancer to become a notifiable disease?

The court believes mandatory reporting can improve cancer surveillance, create better health data, support early diagnosis and help governments plan healthcare services more effectively.

Has cancer been declared a notifiable disease across India?

No. According to the court, 17 States and Union Territories have already notified cancer, while the remaining 19 have now been asked to consider doing the same.

What is the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP)?

The NCRP is an ICMR initiative that collects cancer data across India to help monitor disease trends and guide public health policy.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court's push for uniform cancer reporting could mark a significant step toward improving India's cancer surveillance system. While the final decision remains with individual States and Union Territories, mandatory reporting could strengthen early detection, improve healthcare planning and create a more accurate picture of the country's growing cancer burden.