New Delhi: The Union Finance Minister announced the establishment of 200 daycare cancer centers under the Union Budget 2025–26, which has raised questions about whether this initiative is a genuine effort to strengthen cancer care in India or yet another ambitious promise lacking in execution. Experts agree that while decentralised chemotherapy services may ease patient burdens, comprehensive cancer treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach, skilled professionals, and continuous monitoring. Without proper infrastructure, staffing, and quality control, these centers may fail to deliver meaningful outcomes, much like past healthcare promises that lacked solid implementation, such as the primary healthcare centers dubbed as health and wellness centers. These were meant to provide free maternity care, immunizations, and screenings, but their real impact remains uncertain. Will the new cancer centers follow the same trajectory?This announcement comes against the backdrop of India’s rising cancer burden. According to the National Cancer Registry Programme Report (2020), one in nine Indians is expected to develop cancer in their lifetime, and cases are projected to increase by 27.7 per cent between 2015 and 2025. India added over 14 lakh new cancer patients in 2022.
In response, the government has introduced the new initiative of cancer care centers.
Experts have criticised the government’s new initiative, questioning whether it will become just another announcement or a transformative step toward structured, high-quality cancer care in India. The proposed 200 daycare cancer centers will be integrated into district hospitals across India. Unlike comprehensive oncology centers, these facilities will primarily provide chemotherapy services, offering a decentralized approach to cancer treatment. This model aims to reduce the logistical and financial burden on patients who otherwise travel long distances for treatment. But experts argue that while decentralization is beneficial, cancer care demands a more structured and holistic approach.
Seeing early detection as the biggest advantage of these centers, Dr. Shuchin Bajaj, Founder & Director, Ujala Cygnus Hospital, said, “The government has clearly stated that these will be daycare cancer centers—200 in total. These are not full-fledged oncology centers with radiation, medical, or surgical oncology capabilities; they will strictly provide daycare chemotherapy.”
“Their biggest impact, if structured correctly, will be in early detection rather than just curative chemotherapy. Additionally, these centers can serve as follow-up hubs for patients who receive initial treatment in metro hospitals and only require ongoing chemotherapy. Instead of traveling back and forth to big cities, patients can access treatment locally, reducing their financial and logistical burden,” Dr. Bajaj said.
While he acknowledges the potential of these centers, he cautions that establishing fully integrated oncology centers will take time.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ajai Kumar, Founder & Executive Chairman, HealthCare Global Enterprises Ltd, is more critical of the plan. He said, “Establishing cancer clinics in a scattered manner is thoughtless. Cancer treatment demands a highly coordinated approach, ensuring continuity of care and minimizing recurrence. The government seems to have received poor advice on this strategy.”
“As someone who has founded 26 comprehensive oncology centers, I can say with certainty that cancer care cannot function as a ‘walk-in’ service. Cancer does not differentiate between rich and poor—it only responds to the right or wrong treatment,” he added.
Dr. Kumar also pointed out that the idea of simplifying cancer care into outpatient chemotherapy clinics is misleading, quipping, “Who will staff these centers? Where are the oncologists, radiologists, and surgical experts? Cancer care isn’t just about following a basic protocol; it requires expertise, infrastructure, and a multidisciplinary team making precise, evidence-based decisions.”
He emphasized that without proper staffing, infrastructure, and monitoring of patient outcomes, these centers risk becoming ineffective.
Vishal Bali, Executive Chairman, Asia Healthcare Holdings, supports the intent of the initiative but warns that execution remains a critical challenge. “Cancer is one of the fastest-growing diseases globally, and any focused initiative is a step forward. However, as Dr. Ajaikumar and Dr. Shuchin Bajaj pointed out, execution remains a major concern.”
“Governments frequently announce ambitious healthcare projects, but how many actually materialize? If we assess past promises—whether it’s new medical colleges, increased MBBS seats, or AIIMS expansions—we see that many remain unfinished or delayed. The intent is there, but without a well-defined execution strategy, these initiatives risk remaining policy announcements rather than tangible healthcare improvements,” Bali added.
He raised three crucial concerns: First is staffing—India already faces a shortage of trained oncologists, nurses, and specialists in cancer care. Second is the operational challenges: Cancer treatment is a super-specialty field requiring continuous medical education, updated protocols, and access to advanced diagnostic tools. Third is the impact on patient care: Announcing new centers is easy; ensuring they function efficiently is the real challenge.
All three experts agreed that the proposed daycare cancer centers mark a step toward decentralized chemotherapy services, but concerns over their effectiveness remain. Cancer care requires more than chemotherapy—it demands early detection, advanced diagnostics, radiation therapy, surgical interventions, and ongoing patient monitoring.
While these centers could reduce the burden on tertiary hospitals, their success will depend on adequate staffing of trained oncologists and support personnel, robust infrastructure, including diagnostic and treatment facilities, data-driven monitoring to track patient outcomes and recurrence rates, and a structured approach rather than a fragmented, scattered rollout.
Without these critical elements, the initiative risks becoming yet another under-delivered healthcare promise. The government must ensure that these centers are not just symbolic but truly transformative, providing high-quality, accessible, and effective cancer care.
The Union Budget’s focus on expanding cancer care is commendable, but execution is key. If these centers are established with proper resources, infrastructure, and expertise, they could make a meaningful impact on India’s growing cancer burden. However, if they follow the fate of past healthcare initiatives—underfunded, understaffed, and poorly managed—they will do little to improve patient outcomes.
The real test lies ahead: Will the government ensure quality healthcare, or will these cancer centers remain yet another hollow promise?
