06 Oct 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

B. GS 2 Related

Category: SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Govt. ‘needs to prioritise childhood cancers’

Syllabus: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and the States, Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Mains: Childhood cancer – challenges and government support

Context

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month sheds light on the global issue of paediatric cancers. This article focuses on the situation in Tamil Nadu, India, and the challenges and calls for action in managing these cancers.

Global Perspective

• The International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organisation estimates that around 400,000 children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 are diagnosed with cancer each year worldwide.

Paediatric Cancers in Tamil Nadu

• In Tamil Nadu, there were 2,513 new cancer cases among children in 2022, accounting for 2.9% of all cancer cases.
• The occurrence rate was 100 per million boys and 80 per million girls.
• Common paediatric cancers include leukaemia, lymphoma, and brain and central nervous system tumours.

Challenges in Managing Paediatric Cancers

• Lack of awareness is a significant challenge, as symptoms often mimic common infections, leading to late diagnoses.
• The cost of care is increasing, and insurance coverage may not fully meet the expenses.
• India bears a substantial burden of paediatric cancer cases, around 18% to 20% of the global total.

Calls for Action

• There is a need for a policy shift to prioritise paediatric cancers and include them in the national cancer control policy.
• Tailored therapies have improved prognosis, but relapse remains a concern, particularly in cases of relapsed leukaemia.
• Comprehensive Health Insurance Schemes, like Tamil Nadu’s CM’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, provide coverage for treatments like Bone Marrow Transplantation.

Also read Stem Cell Transplant.

Shared Care Pediatric Oncology Centres

• To reduce indirect expenses for families, there is a call for more shared care paediatric oncology centres.
• Proximity to treatment centres is crucial as paediatric cancer treatments often require lengthy stays and parental involvement.

Nut Graf: Childhood cancers account for a small but significant portion of cancer cases in Tamil Nadu, with challenges including late diagnoses, rising treatment costs, and limited insurance coverage. Calls for policy prioritisation and shared care centres emerge as solutions.

E. Editorials

Category: SOCIAL JUSTICE

1. Defusing the ticking time bomb called diabetes

Syllabus: Issues related to the development and management of the social sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

Mains: Mitigation of diabetes

Context:​ In June 2023, a study conducted by the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Union Health Ministry revealed alarming statistics about diabetes in India. 

• It found that 11.4% of India’s population, approximately 10.13 crore people, are living with diabetes, and an additional 13.6 crore people are pre-diabetic. 
• Furthermore, 28.6% of the population would be considered obese based on BMI measurements.

Reasons:

• According to the World Health Organization, one of the major contributing factors to this health crisis is the consumption of ultra-processed foods, which have been aggressively marketed and have replaced traditional diets. 
• These foods include carbonated drinks, instant cereals, chips, fruit-flavoured drinks, instant noodles, cookies, ice cream, bakery products, energy bars, sweetened yoghurts, pizzas, processed meat products, and powdered infant formulas.

Issues:

• Health Consequences: Scientific evidence indicates that diets high in ultra-processed foods, especially those high in sugar, fat, and salt, pose significant health risks, including an increased risk of type-2 diabetes. A 10% increase in the daily consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with a 15% higher risk of type-2 diabetes among adults.
• Obesity and Chronic Diseases: Ultra-processed foods can lead to obesity, which is a key risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, and premature death. Individuals consuming more than four servings of ultra-processed food daily are at a substantially higher risk of cardiovascular mortality.
• Marketing and Advertising: The food industry, to compensate for declining sales in high-income countries, targets low- and middle-income countries like India with extensive marketing and advertising of these unhealthy products. Children are particularly vulnerable and exposed to marketing tactics such as cartoon characters, incentives, gifts, and celebrity endorsements.

Also read Global Nutrition Report 2022.

Significance

• The escalating prevalence of diabetes and obesity in India poses a severe public health crisis. 
• It is imperative to address the role of ultra-processed foods in this crisis and take action to mitigate its impact. 
• Additionally, the aggressive marketing and advertising tactics used by the food industry need to be curtailed to protect vulnerable populations, especially children.

Solutions:

• Regulation of Marketing: Implement strict regulations on the marketing and advertising of ultra-processed foods and beverages. This can include restrictions on the use of celebrity endorsements, cartoon characters, and incentives aimed at children.
• Front-of-Package Labeling: Enforce front-of-package labelling on unhealthy food products to inform consumers about the risks associated with their consumption. This labelling should be clear and easily understandable.
• Defining “Healthy Food”: Develop a clear and standardized definition of “healthy food” to guide consumers in making informed choices. This definition should be based on established nutritional guidelines.
• Warning Labels: Introduce warning labels on junk food and beverages, highlighting their adverse health effects, especially for products high in sugar, fat, and salt.
• Government Intervention: The government should consider legislative measures, including the possibility of an ordinance, to regulate the consumption of ultra-processed foods. Such legislation can serve as a legal framework to protect public health.
• International Examples: Take inspiration from countries like South Africa, Norway, and Mexico, which have already implemented similar actions to regulate food labelling and marketing.

Nut Graf: The rising prevalence of diabetes and obesity in India, fueled by the consumption of ultra-processed foods and aggressive marketing tactics by the food industry, constitutes a ticking time bomb for public health. To defuse this crisis, the government must take decisive action through regulations, labelling, and defining “healthy food.” The government has an opportunity to show its commitment to public health and emulate successful initiatives from other countries in this regard.