The number of cancer patients in China is increasing at an alarming rate. (Photo : BBC)
Chinese health officials are alarmed by the rising cancer rate in the country, hence unveiling their initiative to implement a three-year nationwide plan that expands cancer prevention, registration and screening.
According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, two million people die of cancer every year while three million new cases are being reported annually.
Chen Wanqing, director of the National Central Cancer Registry, believes that "the prevention of cancer cannot be achieved in a short period."
"We are working on a medium- and long-term plan now, and that plan will provide profound guidance," he further stated.
Experts agree that some of the contributory factors to the alarming statistics include China's aging population, unhealthy lifestyles and environmental pollution.
Under the plan, the health authorities will standardize China's cancer registration scheme and further expand screening and early detection.
Particularly, the three-year plan eyes to increase cancer patient registration to 30 percent and the percentage of Chinese populace with substantial cancer knowledge to 60 percent. Moreover, it aims to decrease smoking rate among adults by 3 percent.
The health commission, the National Development and Reform Commission, and 12 other governmental departments unveiled the plan last week.
For Chen, the goals of the plan are practical and achievable.
Currently, China's cancer patient registration stands at 25-26 percent.
Chen stated that a 30-percent increase is doable, however noting that it still "has a long way to go, as some countries have achieved 100 percent registration."
"The higher the rate is, the more data and information we gain for research," he added.
