On Saturday, the financial budget for 2025-26 was presented, announcing the establishment of 200 day-care centres across the country for cancer treatment. Under this initiative, the health department aims to set up a day-care centre in every district in Maharashtra within the next two months.
This initiative will provide thousands of patients with day-care facilities, including chemotherapy and other treatments, in their own districts. Additionally, a state-wide cancer detection campaign has also been launched.
According to the Indian Cancer Registry, Maharashtra has lost 600,000 patients to cancer in the past decade, while 1.2 million people have been diagnosed with the disease in the same period. The data also reveals that per 100,000 people, the prevalence of oral cancer stands at 26.3%, breast cancer at 77.9%, and cervical cancer at 50.2%.
Reducing the Burden on Major Hospitals
Currently, cancer patients, including both children and adults, have to visit major hospitals in Mumbai, such as Tata Memorial, KEM, Sion, and Nair, for day-care services. This results in long waiting times, financial strain, and time consumption for patients. Keeping this in mind, the state government has announced the launch of day-care centres across all districts within two months on the occasion of World Cancer Day.
The initiative aims to screen people aged 30 and above for oral, breast, and cervical cancer in Maharashtra. The screening will be conducted between February 9 and 16, while free treatment for diagnosed patients will commence from February 17 to 24.
Mobile Cancer Screening Vans in 8 Districts
On February 9, eight mobile cancer screening vans will be launched across key districts, including Thane, Pune, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Latur, and Akola. These “Testing on Wheels” units will help identify suspected cancer cases and facilitate further diagnosis.
Private organizations such as the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Indian Dental Association (IDA), Rotary Club, Lions Club, and Maharashtra Cancer Warriors will be involved in the campaign. They will be informed about the initiative and encouraged to participate actively.
This large-scale initiative by the state government aims to make cancer screening and treatment more accessible, reducing the financial and logistical burden on patients while improving early detection and survival rates.
