Cancer rising in India, around 1.45 million new patients every year: JP Nadda

Union health minister JP Nadda on Saturday said, “timely cancer treatment initiation has improved significantly because of the Ayushman Bharat Jan Aarogya Yojna. Patients enrolled under AB-PMJAY saw 90% rise in access to cancer treatment within 30 days.” He also announced that the centre plans to establish Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) in all district hospitals over the next three years with 200 this year itself. This initiative aims to bring essential cancer services closer to home, particularly for those in underserved rural areas, said the union minister.

The union minister also highlighted that “the cancer incidence in India is rising. We are now seeing 1.45 million new cancer patients every year. As the complexity of cancer treatment continues to grow, it’s not just about providing the best treatment—it’s about making that treatment available locally. Patients should not have to travel long distances for the care they need. We need to develop advanced treatment capabilities at the local and regional levels, and it is your responsibility to make this happen.”

Speaking at the 2^nd AIIMS Oncology Conclave 2025 at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of AIIMS, Jhajjar, Mr Nadda said “Through the 217 AMRIT Pharmacies spread across the country, 5200 drugs for various diseases including cancer are made available at an affordable rate.” He also said altogether, 289 oncology drugs are given at a significant discount of upto 50 per cent of market rates. As a result, so far a total of Rs. 6567 Cr. have been saved for 5.8 crore beneficiaries based on the discount offered.”

Highlighting the centre’s efforts, Mr Nadda underlined that to prevent and control cancer and improve overall cancer care, the Government has been working on provision of Cancer care at primary health care level in the form of prevention and screening, and at the tertiary and secondary level in the form of diagnostics and treatment and palliative care.

He said that “the Government has introduced screening for individuals aged 30 years and above under NHM at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and over 26 crore people have been screened for oral cancer, 14 crore for breast cancer, and 9 crore for cervical cancer at Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs.” He also added that “to enhance the facilities for tertiary level care of cancer, over the last few years over 3000 crore Rupees has been approved for the period 2014-15 to 2025-26 for 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and 20 Tertiary Cancer Care Centers (TCCCs). Moreover, Cancer treatment facilities have been approved in all 22 new AIIMS with diagnostic, medical and surgical facilities.

He also emphasized that “to make cancer treatment available to the poor and the vulnerable, under AB PM-JAY, cancer-related treatment is provided for Medical, Surgical, Radiation and Palliative Oncology across 219 packages. Since the inception of AB PM-JAY, approximately 68.43 Lakh hospital admissions amounting to Rs. 13160.75 Crores have been authorized for cancer related packages under the scheme.”