297 approved across India for FY 2025-26
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 26
In a significant boost to cancer care services in Nagaland, the Union government has approved the establishment of Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) in the districts of Phek, Wokha, Mon and Tuensang as part of a national initiative to expand oncology services. The state is among several in the Northeast to benefit from the Centre’s approval of 297 new DCCCs for the financial year 2025–26.
According to a PIB report, the DCCCs, aimed at decentralising cancer treatment and improving access to chemotherapy, will be established primarily in district hospitals based on available infrastructure. Where required, they may also be set up in other government health facilities, as per state proposals. Each unit may cost up to Rs 1.49 crore, with funding drawn from the State Resource Envelope under the National Health Mission (NHM).
The initiative follows a national gap analysis by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare using Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) cancer registry data. High-burden districts were prioritised, and proposals finalised in consultation with states by the National Programme Coordination Committee (NPCC), in line with the Union Budget 2025–26 announcement to establish DCCCs in all district hospitals within three years.
In the Northeast region, several states are set to benefit from the Centre’s initiative to expand cancer care through the establishment of Day Care Cancer Centres. In Assam, the centres will be set up in the districts of Karimganj, Hailakandi, Marigaon, Hojai, Baksa, Bongaigaon, Udalguri, Dhemaji and Chirang. Meghalaya will see new facilities in West Jaintia Hills, West Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills, while Tripura will have them in North Tripura, Gomati and Dhalai. In Arunachal Pradesh, the districts of Lower Subansiri, West Siang, East Siang, East Kameng, West Kameng, Lohit and Tirap have been selected. Manipur will have DCCCs in Imphal East, Kakching and Jiribam, and Mizoram will see new centres in Aizawl, Champhai and Lawngtlai.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on July 25, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav said the DCCCs are intended to provide follow-up chemotherapy for patients referred by tertiary care centres. Currently, 364 such centres exist across the country.
The minister added that under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), the government has established 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCCs) nationwide. These institutions receive funding for acquiring radiotherapy and surgical equipment, diagnostics, and civil work upgrades, with assistance capped at Rs 120 crore for SCIs and Rs 45 crore for TCCCs.
To improve early detection and management, cancer screening is being implemented as part of Comprehensive Primary Health Care under Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, via the NHM.
In parallel, efforts are underway to expand cancer education. The National Medical Commission has eased regulations for initiating postgraduate courses in Oncology, including allowing new government medical colleges to start PG courses along with UG programmes.
“These steps are part of the Centre’s comprehensive approach to tackle the rising cancer burden through better infrastructure, human resources, and decentralised care,” Jadhav stated.
