Cancer care gets major boost in union budget, AP to benefit

Visakhapatnam: Recognising the financial strain cancer imposes on families in the union budget, central finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced plans to establish day-care cancer centres in every district hospital over the next three years, starting with 200 centres in financial year 2025–26.

Sitharaman went on to unveil a crucial relief measure of fully exempting cancer medications from basic customs duty (BCD). Additionally, customs duty waiver will be extended to 36 life-saving drugs for cancer, rare diseases and chronic illnesses, aiming to make essential treatment more affordable.

The union finance minister’s announcement is of particular benefit to Andhra Pradesh, which currently has the highest number of cancer cases in the country, say medical experts. Recent data from the state's cancer screening initiative, launched in November 2024, revealed that out of 53,07,448 individuals screened so far, 52,221 cases (0.98 per cent) had suspected cancer; 19,447 oral cancer, 15,401 breast cancer and 17,373 cervical cancer.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Cancer Research Centre managing director Dr. V. Murali Krishna, said, “Such incentives will improve early detection and accessibility to treatment .” He revealed that Andhra Pradesh has a death rate of 40,000 cancer patients every year, primarily due to late diagnosis and inaccessibility to treatment.

Dr. Murali Krishna pointed out that customs duty exemption will greatly benefit patients who need expensive medications for advanced stage cancer treatment. Previously, even generic drugs had been heavily taxed. Now, the removal of customs duty will make treatment more affordable.

Establishment of district-level day care centres will address critical challenges of treatment accessibility. They will bring cancer care closer to many patients’ homes.

Oncology specialist Dr Suman Das, in conversation with DC, addressed three key areas. He said innovations in drugs and targeted immunotherapy are promising. But high costs remained a significant barrier. Tax reductions on these treatments could make them accessible.

In particular, Dr. Das expressed concern about lack of awareness and diagnosis in tribal areas. He observed that even if cancer is detected, many patients are reluctant to seek treatment. The initiative of day-care centres could address this problem.

Highlighted the current cancer trends, the oncology specialist underlined that oral cancer cases are increasing , while instances of cervical cancer are declining. They could decrease further if vaccination programmes are held in each district.

Additionally, he pointed out that uterine and breast cancers are showing an increasing trend, mostly in urban areas.