In a significant move to address the rising incidence of cancer in India, the Union Budget has announced the establishment of daycare cancer centers in every district over the next three years. Experts have hailed this initiative as timely and crucial, given the projected 27.7% increase in cancer cases from 2015 to 2025. According to the National Cancer Registry Programme Report 2020, one in nine people in India is likely to develop cancer in their lifetime.
Ashok Varma, Partner at Grant Thornton Bharat, emphasized that this initiative aims to improve access to cancer treatment and support, particularly in remote areas, thereby bridging a critical gap in healthcare services. The government plans to facilitate the setting up of 200 daycare cancer centers in 2025-26.
In addition to this, the Budget has announced the inclusion of 36 life-saving drugs and medicines, primarily for cancer and rare diseases, in the list of medicines fully exempt from basic customs duty (BCD). Another six life-saving medicines will be added to the list, attracting a concessional customs duty of 5%.
Garima Malhotra, Associate Partner at Praxis Global Alliance, highlighted the expansion of medical education with 10,000 additional seats and the plan to add 75,000 seats over the next five years. This expansion is expected to address the shortage of healthcare professionals in the country.
“The establishment of daycare cancer centers in all district hospitals is a critical move towards enhancing accessibility to specialized treatment. These measures, along with continued investment in public health infrastructure, will improve healthcare access and affordability, fostering a healthier India,” Malhotra stated.
The government’s push for improved access to life-saving medicines through the addition of 36 drugs to the exempted list and enhanced support for rare disease treatments has been widely welcomed. The rationalization of customs tariffs for industrial goods, including incentives for domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, is expected to further boost India’s position as the ‘Pharmacy of the World.’
Moreover, the emphasis on research and development with a $2.4 billion investment in private-sector-led innovation is anticipated to accelerate drug discovery and advancements in biotechnology, according to experts.
