By 2045, India will have 2.45 million cancer patients annually. It's important to focus not just on treatment but also on prevention.

News Topical, Digital Desk : Cancer is emerging as a major and serious public health crisis in India. It is expected that by 2045, the number of new cancer cases in the country will increase from 1.5 million annually to more than 2.45 million.

Therefore, a policy focused solely on treatment will not suffice; timely screening, prevention, and early detection must become central to the national health strategy. On the eve of World Cancer Day, the Indian Cancer Society (ICS), Delhi, said the policy should ensure that patients do not reach a point where expensive treatment is the only option.

In the Union Budget 2026-27, the government announced several measures to make cancer treatment affordable and accessible. These include custom duty exemptions on select cancer drugs and promotion of domestic biopharmaceutical production. While health experts at ICS welcomed these initiatives, they cautioned that a treatment-specific approach and policy approach is insufficient to address India's growing cancer burden.

In a dialogue held on these issues on Tuesday, health experts, policymakers, and cancer survivors from the ICS Delhi branch discussed in detail the changing trends in cancer, weaknesses in the screening system, and the need for effective prevention strategies. It was said that the budget has made treatment somewhat accessible, but our focus is on bridging the gap between policy and ground reality by working at the community level.

Jyotsna Goel, Chairperson, ICS Delhi, said that it is important to bust myths, promote timely diagnosis, and disseminate scientific information to the general public. Dr. Nitesh Rohatgi, Senior Director (Oncology), Fortis Memorial Hospital, described early screening and new diagnostic techniques as the key to better treatment outcomes and lower costs. Dr. Urvashi Prasad, former Director, NITI Aayog, and cancer survivor, pointed out the shortcomings in cancer data, regional disparities, and financial constraints.

Health crisis

• The Indian Cancer Society warns that timely diagnosis and prevention, not just treatment, can save lives. If the growing risk of cancer is to be curbed, the health system must prioritize prevention and early detection.
• Experts suggest that an effective cancer prevention strategy should ensure that patients do not reach a stage where expensive treatment is the only option.

Where is the shortage

• Poor screening at the primary health level
• Lack of reliable and integrated cancer data 
• Regional disparities in treatment and diagnosis
• Limited access to diagnostic facilities for the poor and underprivileged
• Late diagnosis increases treatment costs and mortality rates

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