With one in every nine Indians estimated to face the risk of developing cancer during their lifetime, a Rajya Sabha Parliamentary Committee has invited suggestions from stakeholders to strengthen access to affordable cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The initiative comes amid rising cancer cases in the country and growing concerns over the high cost of cancer care, particularly for patients from low  and middle income households.

The committee’s consultation aims to gather recommendations from healthcare experts, industry representatives, researchers, patient advocacy groups and the public to identify policy measures that can improve cancer screening, early diagnosis, treatment accessibility and financial protection for patients. The exercise is expected to contribute to policy discussions on strengthening India’s oncology care ecosystem.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), India is projected to witness nearly 15.7 lakh new cancer cases in 2025, with the disease burden continuing to rise due to population ageing, lifestyle changes and increasing exposure to risk factors. Breast, oral, cervical, lung and colorectal cancers remain among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the country.

While advances in screening technologies, precision diagnostics, immunotherapy, targeted therapies and robotic surgery have significantly improved cancer outcomes, access to these innovations remains uneven across regions. Healthcare experts note that affordability continues to be a major challenge, with many patients facing substantial out of pocket expenditure despite the availability of government health insurance schemes.

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality in India, accounting for a growing share of non communicable disease related deaths. Public health experts emphasize that early detection can substantially improve survival rates, yet awareness, screening coverage and timely diagnosis remain limited, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Experts have also called for greater investment in cancer prevention programmes, expansion of screening services, improved oncology infrastructure and wider access to affordable medicines. They believe that strengthening public private partnerships, promoting indigenous medical technologies and expanding financial protection under schemes such as Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY could help reduce disparities in cancer care.

The Parliamentary Committee’s initiative reflects the government’s growing focus on addressing India’s rising cancer burden through evidence based policy interventions. Healthcare stakeholders believe the consultation presents an opportunity to develop practical strategies that improve accessibility, affordability and quality of cancer care while supporting the country’s broader goal of reducing premature deaths from non communicable diseases.