According to the Union government, 297 new day care cancer centers nationwide have been approved by Parliament for FY26.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav outlined the government’s efforts to combat cancer in the nation in a written response to the Lok Sabha.

The government had suggested in the February Union Budget that “all district hospitals will have day care cancer centers.” In 2025–2026, over 200 cancer day care centers will be built. The daycare centers are designed to help cancer patients receive chemotherapy, which is a crucial component of cancer treatment.

As of right now, 297 new day care cancer centers have been approved for the fiscal year 2025–2026 in response to the statement in the Union Budget 2025–2026. For patients referred by tertiary care facilities, these centers seek to offer follow-up chemotherapy, according to Jadhav.

“Depending on the needs and gaps at that facility, the unit cost for the establishment of day care cancer centers may be up to Rs 1.49 crores,” he continued. There are 364 of these centers across the nation at the moment.

The Minister added that as part of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), the government has established “19 State Cancer Institutes (SCI) and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCC) in different parts of the country.”

The Center also gives these centers financial support for the purchase of radiation, diagnostic, and surgical equipment, as well as for improving indoor civil work and cancer patient facilities and for other uses related to cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care.

“The highest amount of assistance that can be given to SCI is Rs. 120 crores, and to TCCC, it is Rs. 45 crores,” Jadhav stated.

To offer cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, the National Cancer Institute in Jhajjar, Haryana, and the second campus of the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata were established.

Additionally, all 22 new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have approved cancer treatment facilities.

Additionally, as part of the nation’s Comprehensive Primary Health Care, the National Health Mission (NHM) has launched a population-based program through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs for the screening, management, and prevention of prevalent NCDs, including cancer.

The government has also improved cancer education in an effort to increase cancer care nationwide.

According to Jadhav, the National Medical Commission has taken action to make it easier for students to enroll in postgraduate (PG) programs, especially those in oncology.

Even with two faculty members and two seats, a postgraduate course can be started without a senior resident. The number of beds needed for unit creation has decreased in numerous specialties, according to the MoS.

According to the Minister, “government medical colleges can start PG courses concurrently with UG courses, and medical colleges/institutes can apply for starting PG courses one year after medical colleges have been permitted to start undergraduate courses.“