Chandigarh: Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda inaugurated the second AIIMS Oncology Conclave 2025 at the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-AIIMS, Jhajjar, on Saturday. The event brought together top oncologists and researchers from across India to discuss advancements in cancer treatment and research.
Speaking at the event, Nadda highlighted the progress India has made in cancer care under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He emphasised that facilities like Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) at NCI are transforming the Indian healthcare system.
“The institute has matured into a world-class healthcare provider in a short span of six years and, over time, has evolved into a referral centre offering multidisciplinary care and providing better, patient-centric services,”.
He appreciated the dedication of doctors, health workers, and the administration of the institute for making this progress possible.
“Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the narrative around the Indian healthcare system is changing, where Bone Marrow Transplant is possible in institutes like NCI,” he added.
Nadda further stated, “Cancer is a daunting diagnosis that brings fear—not just of the illness, but of the future, of livelihood, of losing loved ones, and the inevitable economic and emotional strain.”
He also visited and appreciated the Vishram Sadan at the NCI, developed by the Infosys Foundation. This facility provides essential accommodation for patients’ attendants in a cost-effective manner, enhancing support for families during challenging times. It also offers psychological and educational support to those in need, setting a benchmark for others.
Nadda stated, “To prevent and control cancer, improve overall cancer care outcomes, and ensure that every citizen, regardless of their location, has access to the care they need, the government has been working on providing cancer care at the primary healthcare level in the form of prevention and screening, and at the tertiary and secondary levels in the form of diagnostics, treatment, and palliative care.”
He announced plans to set up Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) in district hospitals, with 200 centres to be established this year. This initiative aims to bring cancer treatment closer to rural areas and ensure easy access to quality healthcare.
The Oncology Conclave 2025 focused on discussions about breast cancer and head and neck cancers, encouraging collaboration between AIIMS and Institutes of National Importance (INIs) to improve cancer research and treatment across the country. The government has introduced screening for individuals aged 30 years and above under the National Health Mission (NHM) at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Over 26 crore people have been screened for oral cancer, 14 crore for breast cancer, and 9 crore for cervical cancer at Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs.
He further added, “To enhance the facilities for tertiary level care of cancer, over the last few years, more than Rs 3,000 crores have been approved for the period 2014-15 to 2025-26 for 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and 20 Tertiary Cancer Care Centres (TCCCs). Moreover, cancer treatment facilities have been approved in all 22 new AIIMS, with diagnostic, medical, and surgical facilities.”
Nadda also emphasised, “To make cancer treatment available to the poor and the vulnerable, under AB PM-JAY, cancer-related treatment is provided for medical, surgical, radiation, and palliative oncology across 219 packages.
Since the inception of AB PM-JAY, approximately 68.43 lakh hospital admissions, amounting to Rs 13,160.75 crores, have been authorised for cancer-related packages under the scheme.”