Transforming Cancer Care: India's Day Care Revolution

The Union Health Ministry in India has established over 450 Day Care Cancer Centres to decentralize chemotherapy services to district hospitals. This initiative aims to reduce patients' travel distance, financial burden, and dependency on tertiary hospitals, while offering essential drugs and structured staff training.

In a significant boost to India's cancer care infrastructure, over 450 Day Care Cancer Centres have been made operational nationwide. This marks a strategic shift towards decentralizing chemotherapy services directly to district hospitals, ensuring that patients have increased access and reduced travel burden.

The initiative, announced as part of the Union Budget 2025-26, is being implemented to address the escalating cancer burden and strengthen the public health system. By setting up these centres, the government aims to make chemotherapy services available closer to patients' homes, particularly benefiting those in rural areas.

Equipped with essential drugs and adequately trained medical staff, the centres promise to deliver safe and standardized treatments. Patients begin their diagnosis at higher oncology facilities, transitioning to district-level centres for subsequent care, streamlining the healthcare journey while minimizing costs and travel challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)