An ICMR study in BMC Cancer has revealed that only 28.5% of cancer patients in India currently receive radiotherapy, compared to the optimal requirement of 58.4%. Cancers of the breast, head and neck, lung, and cervix together account for nearly 60% of the country’s radiotherapy needs.
India presently has 794 radiotherapy machines, while the minimum requirement is 1,450, and the optimal need could be as high as 2,500 machines. The shortfall is most severe in treatments for lymphoma and lung cancer, with relative deficits of over 70%.
With cancer cases projected to reach 1.57 million annually by 2025, the study stresses the need for greater investment, equitable distribution of equipment, and development of affordable indigenous machines. It also emphasizes early detection and screening programs to catch cancers sooner, reduce treatment burden, and improve survival outcomes.
