FICCI-EY Parthenon unveils roadmap for affordable and accessible cancer care in India

The FICCI-EY Parthenon has released a report titled “Roadmap for Making Cancer Care Affordable and Accessible in India.” Developed with the support of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, the compendium gathers recommendations from five regional roundtables conducted over the past year. One of the primary recommendations is for the Government of India to implement a Comprehensive National Cancer Care Policy or Program, with dedicated funding for six high-burden cancers.

The report outlines the extent of the cancer burden in India. According to estimates, the reported cancer incidence in 2022 was between 19 and 20 lakh cases, although the actual incidence may be 1.5 to 3 times higher. Cancer incidence is expected to increase further, with new cases projected to reach nearly 45 lakh over the next five to six years. The report highlights the unequal distribution of cancer care infrastructure, with rural areas experiencing a heavier strain on tertiary care centres. Cancer treatment costs remain a major financial burden, estimated to be three times higher than that of other non-communicable diseases. India’s participation in global clinical trials currently stands at 4 per cent, despite having 20 per cent of the global disease burden.

Dr Harsh Mahajan, Chair of FICCI’s Health Services Committee and Chairman of Mahajan Imaging Labs, stated, “With the aim to guide policy decision making on cancer control and care for the country, we organised these roundtables and discovered that while a lot of states have taken small steps towards cancer care enhancement and some have even piloted unique initiatives, there is still scope for broader measures aimed at proactive cancer prevention and treatments. This whitepaper is a blueprint of action for policymakers, healthcare providers, and the community at large to transform the cancer care paradigm in India.”

Dr Raj Gore, Co-Lead of the FICCI Task Force on Cancer Care and CEO of HCG, highlighted the urgent need to prioritise women’s cancer care, saying, “We must ensure every woman has equal access to quality healthcare and the ability to make informed decisions. This requires addressing key barriers such as low awareness, fear of screening, and financial limitations. Strengthening early detection and ensuring access to effective treatments are essential steps to improve outcomes and reduce the overall burden of cancer.”

Srimayee Chakraborty, Partner at EY Parthenon India, pointed to the challenges across all stages of cancer care. “The wider cancer care landscape in India is sub-optimal with challenges across stages from awareness and prevention to screening, detection and access to treatment. Enhancing cancer care infrastructure is critical for ensuring that both urban and rural India has access to high quality treatment. It’s essential to equip healthcare facilities with the right technology and resources. Private-public partnerships can play a key role in driving the investment and innovation needed to make cancer care more efficient and accessible.”

Malti Sachdev, Senior Vice President and Head of Varian (India and Territories), Siemens Healthcare, emphasised the need for improved screening rates. “Less than 15 per cent of women in India undergo safe screenings for conditions like breast cancer, and only 1-2 per cent of the population participates in regular screening, driven by fear and low awareness. This adds to the financial burden on the healthcare system. Countries like Korea and Japan cover 75-95 per cent of cancer treatment costs and focus on value-based, outcome-driven healthcare. India should adopt similar measures, including compulsory screenings and integrating advanced therapies into insurance programs, to improve outcomes and reduce costs.”

The compendium calls for policy prioritisation for cancer care at the Ministry of Health level. At present, cancer screening in India falls under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS), a part of the National Health Mission. This program focuses on breast, oral, and cervical cancers but lacks adequate policy focus and funding for other high-burden cancers. The compendium recommends a national policy to cover all stages and modalities of cancer care, including diagnostics, medical, surgical, and radiation treatment.

Additionally, the report suggests updating government schemes to allow for top-up coverage specifically for cancer, increasing the benefit amount by three to four times (for example, from INR 5 lakh to INR 15-20 lakh). Such measures, the report states, would significantly improve access to innovative treatments and enhance patient outcomes.