Rising Cancer Burden Shows Cheaper Drugs Alone Won’t Work: Indian Cancer Society

The Union Budget 2026 has given major relief for families battling cancer by removing import duty on 17 costly cancer medicines in a bid to make treatment a little cheaper; but this is not enough, India Cancer Society (ICS) has said amid a sharp rise in cancer cases in the country.

According to various data, new cancer diagnoses are expected to increase from about 1.5 million every year to nearly 2.5 million by 2045. Yet, around 75 per cent of cancers are detected at an advanced stage.

Amid these statistics lies the lived agony of those currently battling the disease, pointed out Jyotsna Govil, Chairperson of the Delhi Branch of the Indian Cancer Society, which has been consistently emphasising early detection, prevention, and access to affordable treatment.

“Easing drug costs alone will not be enough to counter India's growing cancer burden, especially when a large proportion of patients continue to reach hospitals at advanced stages of the disease. Given the projections, there is a need to focus on preventive measures and early detection.”

She said different forms of cancer are emerging across the country, with clear variations linked to regional demographics. “Patterns of the disease differ widely from one region to another, influenced by factors such as age profile, lifestyle, environmental exposure and access to healthcare, underscoring the need for region-specific prevention and early-detection strategies,” she noted.

Dr. Urvashi Prasad, a lung cancer warrior and former NITI Aayog bureaucrat, expressed her disappointment at the reduction in Budget allocation on air pollution control. “This is worrying,” she said. Various studies have shown that toxic air is now one of the biggest causes of cancer and other serious illnesses, said Dr. Prasad, who is herself battling stage-four lung cancer despite being a non-smoker.

People across the country are breathing polluted air at home, on roads, and at workplaces every day; yet, funds to clean the air have gone down, she said, speaking to Health Outlook on the sidelines of a cancer awareness programme in Delhi.

Dr. Urvashi Prasad, who is now associated with the Indian Cancer Society (ICS), said, “If the government truly wants to reduce cancer, it must invest not just in treatment but also in prevention, like ensuring clean air. Otherwise, cancer cases will keep rising and families will continue to suffer.” Dr. Nitesh Rohatgi, Senior Director, Oncology, Fortis Memorial Hospital, concurs with her. “Public cancer screening in India is still limited. Moreover, while most screening programmes focus only on breast, cervical, and oral cancers, high-burden cancers like lung and blood cancers lack such systems. Again, rare cancers, which may make up 43 to 67 per cent of India’s total cancer burden, are almost ignored in policy planning.” In fact, it is just recently that the Government has released guidelines for screening and treatment of lung cancer.

Age-appropriate screening, early diagnosis, and newer diagnostic tools can significantly improve outcomes and reduce the overall cost of care, Dr. Rohatgi said, but this can help only if patients are aware of the importance of early detection, treatment, and follow-ups.

He warned that one in nine Indians will develop cancer, with the highest incidence falling among adults between 40-60 years. In 2022, there were over 0.92 million deaths due to cancer, which is projected to increase to 2.45 million by 2045.

Highlighting systemic gaps in the country’s cancer landscape, Renuka Prasad, Secretary, ICS Delhi, said regional disparities, weak cancer data, and high out-of-pocket costs continue to delay diagnosis and treatment. Renuka Prasad is a breast cancer survivor.

“There is a huge insurance gap. While public insurance, Pradhan Mantri Jan Ayush Yojna (PMJAY), largely covers hospitalisation and conventional therapy, it excludes most targeted and oral therapies. Similarly, private insurance often requires pre-purchase of critical illness riders, has sub-limits, long waiting periods, and high premiums, leaving the patient and their families at the receiving end.”

Also, rare cancers have found rare mention in the policies, even though they account for 43-67 per cent of India’s total cancer burden. Also, new-generation targeted therapies are often unavailable, unaffordable, or not reimbursed, leading to suboptimal treatment and outcomes, pointed out Prasad.

Dr. Monika Puri, public health consultant and former WHO official, called for reaching the last mile as she stressed that cancer prevention, screening, and continuity of care must be integrated into primary healthcare to ensure equitable access. She also called for expanding standardised daycare chemotherapy centres and adopting “chemo-free” care models, where patients are not required to purchase medicines upfront.

Among an array of demands to curb the disease from spreading its tentacles, the organisation has been urging the Government to make cancer reporting mandatory across the country while expanding insurance to cover modern therapies and outpatient care. On its part, the ICS has been engaged in community-focused initiatives, including large-scale screening programmes, the Prashanti healing and rehabilitation centre, digital outreach through the Rise Against Cancer app, and patient support initiatives.

“Unless India confronts cancer through a truly holistic strategy—prioritising prevention, strengthening early detection, and dismantling financial and systemic barriers—the burden of the disease will continue to escalate, regardless of advances in treatment,” Govil warned.