Delhi's Day Care Cancer Centres Remain Unoperational a Year After Announcement
Even a full year after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the establishment of Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) across India, not a single such facility has become operational in the national capital, Delhi. This delay was disclosed during a recent session in the Rajya Sabha, highlighting a significant gap in healthcare infrastructure for cancer patients.
National Progress Slower Than Expected
Progress on this initiative has been sluggish nationwide. According to information shared in the Rajya Sabha, only 102 out of the planned 297 DCCCs have been established so far. This slow pace persists despite preparatory steps being initiated, indicating broader challenges in implementation.
Training Completed but Infrastructure Lags
In July 2025, four General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) and four nursing officers from four Delhi government hospitals underwent specialised training conducted by doctors from the Delhi State Cancer Institute. This programme included hands-on chemotherapy training, aiming to equip frontline healthcare professionals with essential skills in chemotherapy drug handling, patient monitoring, and clinical management, in line with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) guidelines.
The MoHFW had allocated Rs 11.07 crore to Delhi under the National Programme for Non-Communicable Diseases specifically to establish these centres. Under the PM-DCCC initiative, the proposed centres are intended to provide chemotherapy, counselling services, and medicines to cancer patients. Each facility is planned to have four to six beds and be staffed by either an oncologist or a trained medical officer, along with two nurses, a pharmacist, a counsellor, and a multi-purpose worker.
Delays in Space Allocation and Infrastructure
However, officials in the Delhi Health department report that the project is still in the preparatory stage. "Work is in progress, but earmarking space in the four identified hospitals is yet to be completed. In a couple of hospitals, we are awaiting finalisation of the location. Once infrastructure and human resources are in place, operations will begin," a senior official stated.
In Delhi, the four approved centres were to be set up at:
- Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital
- Rao Tula Ram Memorial Hospital
- Janakpuri Super Speciality Hospital
- Pt. Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital
Additionally, the Delhi government plans to start a separate oral chemotherapy outpatient department (OPD) at Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital. The Union Health Ministry did not comment on the delay by press time, while Delhi Health Secretary Nikhil Kumar was unavailable for a response.
Staffing Concerns and Recommendations
While the government proposed that staff for these cancer centres be drawn from the existing strength at district hospitals, a parliamentary panel has recommended separate recruitment. "The committee desires that separate human resources, including health professionals and nurses, be provided instead of drawing from the district hospital pool, as there is already a scarcity of healthcare professionals in these hospitals," the panel observed in a report.
Rising Cancer Burden in Delhi
In her Budget speech last year, Sitharaman stated that the centres would be rolled out over three years, with at least 200 facilities to be established during the current financial year. This delay is particularly concerning given Delhi's high cancer incidence rates. According to recent ICMR-National Cancer Registry Programme estimates, Delhi reported 28,387 new cases in 2024, up from 27,561 in 2023. The case burden in the Capital is expected to rise by 23% by this year, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced cancer care facilities.
