The government is adopting a multi-pronged and future-ready strategy to strengthen cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research and affordability across the country, with a focus on making advanced cancer care accessible to all sections of society, Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh told Parliament on Thursday.
Responding to questions on the rising cancer burden in India, the Minister said cancer care in the country is being transformed from selective excellence to universal accessibility through the integration of research, technology and public health systems.
Dr Singh acknowledged that cancer patients and their families often face emotional and logistical challenges during hospital admissions. He said efforts are underway to streamline admission processes while simultaneously expanding oncology facilities at the district level to reduce the burden on tertiary care centres.
Highlighting infrastructure expansion since 2014, the Minister said 11 Tata Memorial Centre hospitals have been established across different regions of the country. In addition, a National Cancer Care Grid covering more than 300 hospitals has been created to standardise treatment protocols and improve access to quality care closer to patients’ homes. Major infrastructure expansions, including the Platinum Block at Navi Mumbai, are also in progress.
On the rising incidence of cancer, Dr Singh said the trend is global and driven by factors such as increased life expectancy, environmental exposure, lifestyle changes and the early onset of non-communicable diseases. He noted that early detection has significantly improved outcomes, making many cancers curable when diagnosed in time.
The Minister informed the House that extensive research is being carried out through institutions such as the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology, Tata Memorial Centre and various teaching hospitals. Research efforts focus not only on cancer treatment but also on reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy through radioprotective agents and precision-targeted technologies.
Affordability, Dr Singh said, remains central to the government’s cancer care policy. Nearly 60 per cent of patients at the Tata Memorial Centre receive treatment free of cost or at nominal charges, supported by schemes such as Ayushman Bharat. Even paid services, he added, are significantly cheaper than those in private corporate hospitals.
The government is also working to ensure timely availability of essential cancer medicines through public hospitals and indigenous production, reducing dependence on costly imports. Dr Singh highlighted India’s first indigenous HPV vaccine, developed under the leadership of the Department of Biotechnology, as a major milestone in the prevention of cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers among young Indian women.
On global cooperation, the Minister said Tata Memorial Centre is collaborating with the International Atomic Energy Agency under the “Rays of Hope” initiative to train healthcare professionals from low- and middle-income countries. He noted that Tata Memorial functions as a unique institution combining patient care, teaching and advanced research, and operates as a deemed university offering specialised training in oncology, paediatric oncology and nuclear medicine across several states, including Assam.
Responding to questions on advanced nuclear medicine therapies, including Lutetium-177 PSMA-617 for prostate cancer, Dr Singh said India has developed 24 indigenous radioisotopes over the past decade for diagnostic and therapeutic use. These innovations, he said, are helping make cutting-edge theranostic treatments affordable and scalable, even in remote and rural areas.
