Cancer, one of the most challenging and life-altering diseases, affects millions across the globe, and India is no exception. The battle against cancer is often long and draining, not just physically but emotionally and financially. 

However, in a move that could transform the landscape of cancer care in India, Dr. Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, informed the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, that the government has approved the establishment of more than 200 Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) across the country for the Financial Year 2025-26.

This is a major step forward in making cancer treatment more accessible to the millions of people affected by the disease, particularly those in high-burden areas. The Day Care Cancer Centres are set to provide life-saving outpatient services such as chemotherapy, allowing patients to receive treatment without the need for prolonged hospital stays. By doing so, the government hopes to significantly reduce the physical, emotional, and financial burdens often associated with cancer treatment.

The DCCCs will primarily be set up in district hospitals, but other government health facilities may also be considered based on logistical feasibility and state proposals. Each centre is expected to cost up to Rs. 1.49 Crores, with funding coming from the National Health Mission (NHM) through the State Resource Envelope (RE).

In the planning process, a gap analysis conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) helped identify the districts with the highest cancer burden. These high-priority districts will be the first to receive the new centres, ensuring that resources are focused where they are needed most.

This initiative, part of the government’s broader plan announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, is aimed at setting up Day Care Cancer Centres in all district hospitals over the next three years.

The newly approved centres are spread across several states, including Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Punjab, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. This wide distribution of centres will ensure that cancer patients in both urban and rural areas will have better access to treatment.

Dr. Jadhav emphasized that this is a crucial step in improving the healthcare infrastructure in India, especially in high-burden areas. The new centres are not just about expanding physical infrastructure but about making affordable, accessible cancer care a reality for more people across the country.

This effort reflects the government’s strong commitment to ensuring that cancer care is no longer a distant dream for people in underserved areas, but a reality that’s within reach for every Indian, no matter where they live.