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India Sees Significant Reduction in Cancer Treatment Delays

  • 06 Feb 2025

According to a recent Lancet study, better awareness and improved healthcare infrastructure have led to a 36% overall reduction in delays in cancer treatment initiation across India, with a notable 90% improvement among Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries.

Key Findings

  • Impact of Ayushman Bharat: Patients covered under the AB PM-JAY scheme saw a 90% rise in access to cancer treatment within 30 days of diagnosis.
  • Infrastructure Gap: India has 779 radiotherapy machines, far below the WHO-recommended minimum of 1 per million people. By global standards, India needs between 1,350 and 5,000 machines.
  • Disparities in Timely Treatment: Younger patients (<30 years: 77%) and those with higher education (70.2%) were more likely to start treatment early.
  • Financial Burden & Coverage: 40% of patients were not covered under any scheme, and those with higher income faced fewer delays.