Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated a Day-Care Cancer Facility at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, developed with technical support from Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) under the Department of Atomic Energy. The facility represents the first phase of a comprehensive cancer-care expansion program aimed at decentralizing specialized oncology services beyond major metropolitan centers.
National Cancer Burden and Strategy
Dr Singh highlighted India's rising cancer burden, with projections indicating approximately 20 lakh new cases annually by 2030. This necessitates expanding cancer-care facilities at different levels to provide accessible treatment closer to patients' homes. The minister called for public cooperation in checking malpractices like food adulteration that contribute to cancer incidence.
Vidisha Cancer-Care Expansion Plan
TMC's multidisciplinary team conducted a Cancer Gap Care Analysis from June 5-7, 2026, followed by a screening camp that identified 586 cancer patients and 254 suspected cases. The phased expansion includes:
- Medical manpower development: Two doctors and seven nursing officers completed oncology training at ACTREC, Mumbai, with surgeon training scheduled soon
- Radiotherapy: Madhya Pradesh government will construct a radiotherapy facility with Linear Accelerator (LINAC) within 2-3 years
- Diagnostics: TMC provided comprehensive lists for Immunohistochemistry and molecular markers; pathology personnel will train at TMC Mumbai
- Prevention and early detection: Establishing a center of excellence for cancer prevention through education and research
- Data systems: Creating Population-Based and Hospital-Based Cancer Registries to track incidence, diagnosis stages, and outcomes
- Palliative care: Developing dedicated services with structured training for medical staff
National Cancer Infrastructure
TMC's institutional network spans 11 hospital units across seven states including Mumbai, Kharghar, Punjab, Varanasi, Visakhapatnam, Muzaffarpur, and Guwahati. The National Cancer Grid connects over 380 cancer centers, research organizations, and professional bodies for quality improvement, standardization, training, and research. Additional regional facilities like Government Medical College Kathua are also being developed through TMC collaboration.
The integrated approach encompasses medical, surgical, and radiation oncology, advanced pathology, prevention, early detection, cancer surveillance, palliative care, and training programs. The Vidisha initiative exemplifies this model, aiming to reduce patient travel burdens by creating a decentralized, comprehensive cancer-care network across India.