Government to Establish Daycare Cancer Centers in District Hospitals

Nationwide Plan for Cancer Care Expansion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that daycare cancer centers will be set up in all districts across the country within the next three years. To implement this initiative, the government has started a review of district hospitals to identify infrastructural gaps and ensure the effective implementation of this budget proposal.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone of Shri Bagheshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur. The institute will build a dedicated cancer hospital. After the event, Modi reiterated the government's commitment to scaling up cancer care by establishing daycare cancer centers in every district.

"This (daycare cancer centers) will lead to an increase in access to quality cancer care for more people, especially in rural areas. Also, this will reduce the burden on tertiary care centers, allowing them to focus on more complex cases by offering such services at the district level.

We have started conducting a gap analysis and reviewing the infrastructure of all district hospitals for setting up these cancer centers. As part of the exercise, we will also assess the cancer load in these district hospitals.

However, various types of cancer are preventable, and through widespread awareness and timely interventions, India is reducing its cancer burden and currently offers prevention and screening at the primary healthcare level. At the secondary and tertiary levels, diagnostics and treatment are also provided to individuals at Ayushman Arogya Mandir," said a government official.

Enhancing Accessibility and Reducing Burden on Tertiary Hospitals

A senior government official highlighted that these centers will significantly improve access to quality cancer care, especially in rural areas. They will also reduce pressure on tertiary care facilities, allowing them to focus on complex cases while district hospitals manage chemotherapy and preventive care.

Each daycare cancer center is expected to have four to six beds and will primarily provide cancer awareness and prevention programs, as well as chemotherapy services. According to the Union Health Ministry, the estimated cost of setting up these centers is Rs 3,200 crore.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in her budget speech, confirmed that 200 daycare cancer centers will be set up in the financial year 2025-26, covering all districts in the next three years. The government is currently conducting a detailed infrastructure review and assessing the burden of cancer in district hospitals.

Ongoing Government Efforts in Cancer Care

Since 2014-15, over Rs 3,000 crore has been allocated to strengthen cancer care infrastructure, supporting 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and 20 Tertiary Cancer Care Centers (TCCCs). Cancer treatment facilities at all 22 new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have also been approved.

Additionally, under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), about 68.43 lakh cancer-related hospitalizations have been sanctioned, amounting to Rs 13,160.75 crore.

Affordable Cancer Medications and Screening Initiatives

The government has made cancer treatment more affordable through 217 AMRIT pharmacies, which offer 289 oncology drugs at a discount of up to 50%. Under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana, low-cost anti-cancer drugs are also available.

Additionally, large-scale cancer screening programs have been introduced under the National Health Mission (NHM). So far, more than 260 million people have been screened for oral cancer, 140 million for breast cancer, and 90 million for cervical cancer.

Tax Breaks on Life-Saving Cancer Drugs

To further reduce the financial burden on cancer patients, the government has completely exempted 36 essential drugs used for cancer treatment, as well as those for rare and chronic diseases, from basic customs duty.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal/MSM)