India Expands Cancer Care: 466 Day Care Centers Now Functional Nationwide

• More than 450 Day Care Cancer Centers (DCCCs) are now functional across India, strengthening district-level chemotherapy services.
• The government announced the establishment of DCCCs in district hospitals in Union Budget 2025-26, with 200 centers planned for the current fiscal year.
• The initiative aims to decentralize routine cancer treatment, reducing patient dependence on tertiary hospitals and easing financial and physical burdens.
• Medical officers and staff nurses from identified districts received 4-6 weeks of hands-on training at mentor institutes to ensure safe and standardized chemotherapy services.
• Free provision of essential chemotherapy drugs at public health facilities is a key component, significantly reducing out-of-pocket expenditure for patients.