Responding to a series of questions in Parliament on the rising burden of cancer in the country, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today highlighted the Government’s multi-pronged, future-ready strategy to strengthen cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research, and affordability, particularly for economically weaker sections.

Addressing concerns related to hospital admissions, rising cancer incidence, affordability of medicines, vaccines, global collaborations, and access to advanced nuclear therapies, the Minister said the Government is transforming cancer care from selective excellence to universal accessibility, driven by research, technology, and public health integration.

Dr. Jitendra Singh acknowledged that cancer patients and their families often face emotional and logistical stress during hospital admissions. He said the Government is working towards streamlining admission procedures, while simultaneously expanding oncology facilities at the district level to reduce referral pressure on tertiary hospitals.

The minister highlighted that since 2014, 11 Tata Memorial Centre hospitals have been established across the country, along with a national cancer care grid covering over 300 hospitals, ensuring standardized and accessible cancer services closer to patients’ homes. Major expansions, including a Platinum Block at Navi Mumbai, are also underway.

Addressing concerns over the growing prevalence of cancer, Dr. Singh said the rise is a global phenomenon, driven by longer life expectancy, environmental factors, lifestyle changes, and early onset of non-communicable diseases.“Cancer today is no longer a disease of old age alone. Early diagnosis has transformed many cancers from fatal to curable,” the Minister said.

Dr. Jitendra Singh informed the House that extensive research is underway through institutions such as the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), Tata Memorial Centre, and teaching hospitals, focusing not only on cancer itself but also on reducing side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy through radioprotective agents and precision-targeted technologies.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said that affordability remains central to the Government’s cancer care policy. At Tata Memorial Centre, nearly 60% of patients receive treatment free or at nominal cost, supported by schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, while even paid services are significantly cheaper than corporate hospitals.

The Minister said the Government is ensuring timely availability of essential cancer medicines through public hospitals and indigenous production, reducing dependence on expensive imports. Dr. Jitendra Singh also highlighted that India has developed its first indigenous HPV vaccine, a landmark achievement led by the Department of Biotechnology. The vaccine has a preventive role against cervical cancer, which remains one of the most common cancers among young Indian women.

On international collaboration, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted Tata Memorial Centre’s partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) under the “Rays of Hope” initiative, which is training healthcare professionals from low- and middle-income countries.He said Tata Memorial uniquely combines patient care, teaching, and cutting-edge research, operating as a deemed university and offering super-specialty training in oncology, paediatric oncology, and nuclear medicine across multiple states, including Assam.

Responding to questions on advanced theranostics such as Lutetium-177 PSMA-617 for prostate cancer, Dr. Jitendra Singh said India has developed 24 indigenous radioisotopes over the past decade for diagnostic and therapeutic use.These include world-class innovations for prostate cancer and childhood blood cancers, ensuring that cutting-edge nuclear medicine is affordable and scalable, even in logistically challenging rural areas.

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NKR/AK

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