As many as 466 Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) are currently functional across the country, reflecting a steady expansion and strengthening of district-level chemotherapy services, Union Health Ministry sources said.
The government, in the Union Budget 2025-26, had announced the establishment of Day Care Cancer Centres in district hospitals nationwide over the next three years, with 200 centres slated to be set up during the current financial year.
The initiative was introduced in response to the rising cancer burden and the need to strengthen the public health system by making chemotherapy services available closer to patients’ homes.
“The objective is to decentralise routine cancer treatment and reduce dependence on tertiary hospitals for scheduled chemotherapy,” a Health Ministry source said.
Cancer treatment often requires multiple hospital visits over several months, with regular follow-ups and timely chemotherapy cycles essential for effective outcomes.
For many patients, particularly those from rural areas or economically weaker sections, repeated travel to tertiary hospitals in cities can be financially and physically taxing. Expenses related to travel, accommodation, food and loss of daily wages add significantly to the overall burden.
Patients undergoing chemotherapy are often weak and require a caregiver during hospital visits, meaning both the patient and attendant incur travel costs and wage loss.
“By making chemotherapy services available at district hospitals, DCCCs significantly reduce travel distance, indirect expenditure and disruption to family income, thereby easing the socio-economic impact of treatment,” the source said.
Before sanctioning new centres, the ministry undertook a detailed gap analysis in consultation with states and Union Territories, assessing cancer burden, patient load and infrastructure readiness.
Capacity building has been central to the programme. Medical officers and staff nurses from identified districts underwent structured hands-on training for four to six weeks at mentor institutes identified by state governments.
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These institutes included government medical colleges, regional cancer centres, state cancer institutes and tertiary cancer hospitals with adequate oncology expertise.
Training covered chemotherapy administration, patient assessment, dose calculation, management of side effects, emergency response, infection control, safe handling of cytotoxic drugs, biomedical waste management, counselling of patients and caregivers, and referral coordination.
The ministry said the initiative has strengthened district-level clinical competence and ensured uniform standards of care.
Free provision of essential chemotherapy drugs at public health facilities is another key component of the programme. Since medicines account for a significant share of cancer treatment costs, ensuring their availability through government supply systems helps reduce out-of-pocket expenditure.
Under the framework, patients are initially diagnosed and treatment plans formulated at Tertiary Care Cancer Centres, State Cancer Institutes or other higher oncology facilities.
The first chemotherapy cycle is administered at the mentor institute. Once stabilised and the regimen finalised, subsequent cycles are provided at district-level centres. In case of complications or need for advanced intervention, patients are referred back to higher centres, ensuring continuity and safety.
The initiative has also upgraded existing infrastructure. Functional DCCCs have been strengthened with improved facilities, equipment, trained manpower and streamlined drug supply systems, while new centres have been added in identified districts.
“At present, 466 DCCCs are functional across the country, reflecting steady expansion and strengthening of district-level chemotherapy services,” a source said.
The DCCC initiative, officials added, represents a comprehensive and patient-focused reform in cancer care delivery.
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