Empowering skilled care across India’s growing cancer treatment infrastructure

As India embarks on a landmark initiative to establish 200 Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) in district hospitals by 2025‑26, the government and healthcare institutions are prioritizing comprehensive training for medical staff to ensure safe and effective chemotherapy delivery.

Under the Union Budget 2025‑26, at least 200 district-level day care centres—each equipped with 4 to 6 beds, chemotherapy administration facilities, counselling services, palliative care, and diagnostics—are slated for launch in the coming year. Over the next three years, the initiative aims to set up around 4,500 beds in all district hospitals across India
PM Vishwakarma Yojana

Recognizing the critical role of trained personnel, the Ministry of Health mandates that each centre be staffed with:

an oncologist or trained medical officer,

two nurses certified in chemotherapy administration,

a pharmacist, a counsellor, and a multipurpose health worker

Nursing staff will receive specialized training in safe chemotherapy mixing, administration, management of side effects (such as vomiting, neutropenia, and mucosal reactions), drug dispensing, and infection control, aligned with protocols adapted to the Indian context
Lippincott Journals

A parliamentary committee has recommended dedicated recruitment to avoid diverting already overburdened district hospital staff
Indian Journal of Palliative Care

Why Staff Training Matters
India faces a severe shortfall of oncology professionals: there are approximately 2,700 oncologists, while demand is expected to exceed 5,000 to meet rising cancer cases

Adequate staff training ensures:

Safe chemotherapy practice, reducing occupational hazards for healthcare workers and patients alike. Even small errors in drug handling or administration can lead to serious adverse outcomes
Lippincott Journals

Improved patient adherence and continuity of care by reducing dropouts. Travel constraints and treatment interruptions currently plague underserved regions, with travel-induced dropout rates as high as 30% .

Enhanced quality of care closer to home, enabling district hospitals to decongest tertiary centres and streamline treatment delivery

Training Models and Institutional Support
States like Tamil Nadu already implement Day Care Chemotherapy Programmes where follow-up chemotherapy is administered by a physician and trained nurse at district hospitals after tumour‑board decisions made at tertiary centres

Oncology nursing divisions at institutions like the Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, offer induction and in-service training—ranging from stoma care to central venous access and chemotherapy techniques
rcctvm.gov.in
National-level recommendations underscore the need for culturally relevant, hands-on mentored programs in India
Indian Journal of Palliative Care

Impact Across the Healthcare System
This training-driven scale-up is expected to significantly boost cancer care access in tier‑2 and tier‑3 towns, reducing out-of-pocket expenses (currently averaging ₹39,000 per inpatient case) and easing travel burdens . Experts believe the initiative could save patients up to ₹10,000 crore annually
The Times of India

Moreover, well-trained staff positioning—operating under a hub‑and‑spoke model linking tertiary centres with local DCCCs—ensures continuity of care, specialist consultation access, and streamlined workflows

India’s deployment of Day Care Cancer Centres is paired with a structured training framework for medical staff to ensure safe and effective chemotherapy delivery. With certified nurses, trained physicians, and multidisciplinary support teams, the programme aims to bridge cancer care gaps and improve health outcomes, especially in underserved regions.