Haryana Expands Cancer Care Network with 22 New Day Care Centres
On the occasion of World Cancer Day, Haryana's additional chief secretary for health and family welfare, Sumita Misra, announced a significant expansion in the state's cancer care infrastructure. From Wednesday, Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) have commenced operations at 22 district civil hospitals across Haryana, marking a pivotal step towards decentralising cancer treatment and bringing essential services closer to patients' homes.
Enhancing Accessibility and Reducing Referral Burden
Misra emphasised that this initiative aims to minimise the need for repeated referrals to tertiary care institutions for routine and follow-up interventions. By enabling the delivery of cancer services at the district level, patients can access care more conveniently, reducing travel time and associated costs. Previously, only five such centres were functional in Ambala, Panchkula, Kurukshetra, Yamunagar, and Faridabad.
The newly operational DCCCs will provide follow-up chemotherapy through a hub-and-spoke model. Key hubs include NCI Jhajjar, PGIMS Rohtak, Sarvodaya Hospital Faridabad, and ACCC Ambala Cantt, ensuring coordinated and efficient care delivery across the state.
Comprehensive Cancer Care and Advanced Facilities
Highlighting the state's commitment to cancer care, Misra pointed to the Atal Cancer Care Centre (ACCC) at Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantt, as a unique, state-of-the-art facility offering comprehensive services at the secondary level. Equipped with advanced technologies such as a linear accelerator, CT simulator, and Brachytherapy units, the ACCC provides chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical oncology.
Between January and December 2025, the ACCC recorded impressive outcomes: over 20,016 patients attended the OPD, 2,743 patients received chemotherapy through 3,829 sessions, and 396 mammography tests, 237 brachytherapy procedures, and 721 surgeries were successfully performed.
Strengthening Prevention and Screening Efforts
Under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), the health department is intensifying awareness campaigns on cancer risk factors and promoting healthy lifestyles to reduce the disease burden. Observances like World Cancer Day and National Cancer Awareness Day are leveraged to sensitise citizens about healthy eating habits, regular physical activity, and the harmful effects of tobacco and alcohol consumption.
Screening for common cancers is being conducted at all Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, primary health centres, community health centres, sub-divisional hospitals, and district civil hospitals across Haryana. Suspected cases are confirmed through diagnostic facilities such as FNAC, pap smear, fluid cytology, and biopsy, available at multiple district-level hospitals.
This expansion of cancer care infrastructure underscores Haryana's proactive approach to addressing the growing challenges of cancer, ensuring timely diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care for patients across the state.
