The global burden for cancer has grown steadily and India is no exception to this trend. The total cancer cases in India in 2020 were 1.32 million and the total cancer deaths were 0.85 million which accounts for 64.3% mortality rate. Cancer as a % of Non-Communicable Disease deaths is 19.1%. Research shows that India’s cancer cases could increase by 12% in the next five years, with 1.5 million people projected to suffer from the non-communicable disease by 2025. 

In order to enhance India’s capacity and capability for treating and managing Cancer, there is need to strengthen our entire cancer care infrastructure including prevention, care delivery, skilled workforce, technology and equipment, drugs and therapy as well as palliative care. Also, creation of workflow efficiency along with improving treatment quality at lower costs to make cancer care more effective and affordable for the entire population.  

Given the current infrastructure and access gaps, and the need to bridge these gaps rapidly, this Task Force has been formed in collaboration with FICCI Swasth Bharat, MedTech and Pharma Committees with the overall objective to develop policy suggestions and promote partnerships for ‘making cancer care more accessible and affordable in India’.