In a significant move to combat the growing burden of cancer in India, the Government has implemented a series of robust measures aimed at the detection, prevention, and treatment of the disease. According to an official statement released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday, these steps are being taken through both technical and financial support to States and Union Territories under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), which operates under the National Health Mission (NHM).
As part of the initiative, a network of 770 District NCD Clinics, 233 Cardiac Care Units, 372 District Day Care Centres, and 6,410 NCD clinics at Community Health Centres has been established across the country. A population-based screening and management programme for common non-communicable diseases—including oral, breast, and cervical cancers—has also been rolled out under Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, with a focus on providing services in rural and underserved regions.
To strengthen tertiary care, the government has set up 19 State Cancer Institutes and 20 Tertiary Cancer Care Centres in various states. Additionally, all 22 newly established AIIMS are equipped with cancer treatment facilities, offering comprehensive diagnostic, medical, and surgical services. The National Cancer Institute in Jhajjar, with 1,460 beds, and the second campus of the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata, with 460 beds, further augment the country’s capacity for super-specialty cancer care.
In parallel, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) continues to offer financial protection of Rs. 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary hospitalization to nearly 55 crore beneficiaries. Notably, the scheme has recently been expanded to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income.
Cancer care features prominently in AB PM-JAY, with over 68 lakh treatments worth Rs.13,000 crore carried out under the scheme so far—of which more than 75% have benefited rural patients. Furthermore, targeted therapies have supported over 4.5 lakh treatments valued at over Rs. 985 crore, with more than 76% accessed by rural beneficiaries.
In a forward-looking move announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, the Government plans to set up 200 Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) in district hospitals across the country during the financial year 2025–26, as part of a three-year roadmap. These centres will be established based on a detailed gap analysis of existing cancer care infrastructure, availability of trained personnel, and medical equipment. Districts with a high cancer burden and limited access to treatment will be prioritized, with strong referral linkages planned between the DCCCs, State Cancer Institutes, and Tertiary Care Centres to ensure a seamless continuum of care.
