**Executive Summary**
This document is a response by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to Unstarred Question No. 2386 regarding the use of immunotherapy for cancer treatment in India, to be answered on February 13, 2026. The response details the government's approved protocols, guidelines, and availability of immunotherapy services. ICMR has prepared evidence-based guidelines for lung cancer treatment and pallitative care.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **ICMR Guidelines:**
* The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has prepared evidence-based guidelines for lung cancer treatment and palliative care.
* These guidelines provide a standardized, evidence-based framework for diagnosis, treatment, and palliation of lung cancer.
* The objective is to improve early detection, strengthen clinical decision-making, and reduce variations in care delivery.
* The guidelines comprise 15 evidence-based recommendations covering therapeutic and palliative aspects of lung cancer management.
* Immunotherapy is recommended, either alone or in combination with other agents, over chemotherapy alone in suitable patients.
* **Immunotherapy Availability:**
* Immunotherapy services are provided in certain tertiary care Government hospitals.
* This includes institutions under the Central Government and State Governments.
* Availability is subject to infrastructure, trained specialists, and approved drugs.
* **Framework and Protocols:**
* The Government of India has established a framework to support the use of immunotherapy in lung cancer treatment.
* This framework involves the Department of Health Research, Clinical Establishment Standards, and ICMR recommendations.
* Detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), patient eligibility criteria, and monitoring protocols are outlined in the national lung cancer evidence-based guidelines.
**Impact Analysis**
**Cancer Patients**
*Impact:*
They are directly impacted as the document addresses the availability and guidelines for immunotherapy, a treatment option for lung cancer.
*Action Required:*
Patients should consult with healthcare providers at tertiary care Government hospitals to assess eligibility and access immunotherapy services.
**Healthcare Providers in Government Hospitals**
*Impact:*
Healthcare providers will need to adhere to the evidence-based guidelines prepared by ICMR for lung cancer treatment, including the use of immunotherapy.
*Action Required:*
Healthcare providers need to implement the SOPs and guidelines, ensuring adherence to patient eligibility criteria and monitoring protocols.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The primary government ministry responsible for answering questions regarding immunotherapy for cancer treatment.
Indian Council of Medical Research: An organization under the Department of Health Research that prepared evidence-based guidelines for lung cancer treatment and palliative care.
Lung Cancer Evidence-Based Guidelines: National guidelines established by ICMR and other organizations to standardize treatment, SOPs, eligibility, and monitoring for immunotherapy in lung cancer treatment.
Immunotherapy: Treatment being enquired about for cancer treatment, specifically lung cancer.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2386
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13TH FEBRUARY,2026
USEOFIMMUNOTHERAPYFORCANCER TREATMENT
2386. SHRIMADDILAGURUMOORTHY:
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleasedtostate:
(a) whether immunotherapy is permitted for the treatment of cancer under the approved medical
protocolsandguidelinesissued by the Government inthe countryandif so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether immunotherapy is currently being provided to cancer patients in Government
hospitals across the countryandif so, the names of such hospitals; and
(c) the details of the approved protocols, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and clinical
guidelines prescribed by the Ministry for the administration of immunotherapy in cancer
hospitals includingcriteria for patienteligibilityandmonitoring mechanismsinplace?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH ANDFAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) to (b) As per information provided by Indian Council of Medical Research, Department of
Health Research - ICMR has prepared evidence-based guidelines for lung cancer treatment and
palliative care. These guidelines establish a standardized, evidence-based framework for the
diagnosis, treatment, and palliation of lung cancer, with the objective of improving early
detection, strengthening clinical decision-making, and reducingvariations in care delivery across
the country. The guidelines comprise 15 evidence-based recommendations covering both
therapeutic and palliative aspects of lung cancer management, including the recommendation of
immunotherapy, either alone or in combination with other agents, over chemotherapy alone in
suitable patients.
Immunotherapy services are provided in certain tertiary care Government hospitals, including
institutions under the Central Government and State Governments, subject to availability of
infrastructure, trainedspecialists, andapproveddrugs.
(c)The Government of India,through the Department of HealthResearch, ClinicalEstablishment
Standards, and ICMR recommendations, has established a framework to support the use of
immunotherapy in lung cancer treatment. The detailed standard operating procedures, patient
eligibility criteria, and monitoring protocols are outlined in the national lung cancer
evidence‑based guidelines. [Ref: https://dhr.gov.in/whatsnew/eve-world-cancer-day-honorable-
union-health-minister-releases-evidence-based-guidelines].
******