New Delhi: Experts have welcomed the Union Budget’s proposal to establish daycare cancer centres in every district over the next three years, calling it a timely and necessary initiative.
With cancer rates in India on the rise, cases are projected to increase by 27.7% from 2015 to 2025.
According to the ‘National Cancer Registry Programme Report’ 2020, one in nine people is expected to develop cancer in their lifetime.
Ashok Varma, Partner at Grant Thornton Bharat, highlighted that the Budget’s plan aims to improve access to cancer treatment, particularly in remote areas, addressing a critical gap in healthcare services.
The government plans to set up 200 daycare cancer centres by 2025-26 to help meet the growing demand for cancer care.
In addition to the cancer centres, the Budget announced the inclusion of 36 life-saving medicines, primarily for cancer and rare diseases, in the list of drugs fully exempt from basic customs duty (BCD).
Another six medicines will be added to a list that qualifies for a concessional 5% customs duty.
Garima Malhotra, Associate Partner at Praxis Global Alliance, emphasized that the expansion of medical education, with the addition of 10,000 new seats and a planned increase of 75,000 seats over the next five years, will help address the ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals.
She noted that the creation of daycare cancer centres in all district hospitals is a critical step towards enhancing accessibility to specialised treatment.
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Malhotra also praised the government’s focus on improving the affordability and availability of life-saving medicines, particularly for rare diseases.
The push to rationalise customs tariffs for industrial goods and offer incentives for domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing further strengthens India’s position as the “Pharmacy of the World.”
Additionally, experts applauded the government’s Rs 20,000 crore investment in research and development, which will accelerate drug discovery and advancements in biotechnology.
