Parliament Question: Establishment of Additional Cancer Hospital in Assam

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3392 TO BE ANSWEREDON7TH AUGUST, 2026 ESTABLISHMENTOFADDITIONALCANCER HOSPITALIN ASSAM 3392. MD. RAKIBULHUSSAIN: Willthe Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether the Government proposes to establish additional cancer hospitals and advanced oncologycentresinAssam, if so, the details thereof; (b) the present availability of radiotherapy, chemotherapy and cancer diagnostic facilities in Government hospitals of the said State; (c) whether patients from Dhubri and adjoining districts continue to travel long distances for treatment,if so, the details thereof; and (d) the steps takenby the Government toensure affordableandtimely cancercare? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE INTHE MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV) (a) to(d) The Department of Health andFamily Welfareprovides technical andfinancial support to States and Union Territories across the country under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) as part of the National Health Mission (NHM). The programme focuses on strengthening infrastructure, human resource development, screening, early diagnosis, referral, treatment, and health promotion for NCDs. Under NP-NCD, 770 District NCD Clinics, 233 Cardiac Care Units and 6,410 NCD clinics at Community Health Centres were set up across the country. In addition, 524 Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) are functional across the country to ensure cancer care accessibility at district hospital level, out of which 06 DCCCs are functionalinthe state of Assam. Further, the Department of Health and Family Welfare is implementing ‘Strengthening of Tertiary Care Cancer Facilities’ Scheme under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. Under the Scheme, support is provided to States and Union Territories for setting up of State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCCs) in Government Medical Colleges/Hospitals or Regional Cancer Centres. Till date 39 institutions (19 SCI and 20 TCCC), including Gauhati Medical College & Hospital, Guwahati, asa StateCancer Institute inAssam were approvedacross the country.Treatment of major NCDs including Cancer treatment are available under Ayushman Bharat – PradhanMantri Jan ArogyaYojana(AB PMJAY).Thisscheme providesfor Rs. 5 lakh perfamily annually for secondary and tertiary care hospitilization in the empanelled public and private hospitals. The Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) and Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacies improve access to affordable cancer medicines, stents, and implants, reducing out-of-pocket expenses and supporting long-term treatment adherence. Under NHM, National Free Drugs Initiative and Free Diagnostic Services ensure essential medicines and diagnostics at public health facilities, reducing out-of-pocket expenses. Anti- cancer drugs are included in the Essential Drugs List at District and Sub-Divisional Hospitals underNP-NCD. *****