The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare organised a two-day National Workshop on Strengthening Cancer Care and Urban Health on 27–28 November at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The event brought together Principal Secretaries, Mission Directors (NHM), and senior officials. State and UT Nodal Officers working in cancer control, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and urban health also participated.
Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary (Health & Family Welfare), inaugurated the workshop.
Government Reaffirms Priority to Improve Cancer Services
Delivering the keynote address, the Union Health Secretary reaffirmed the Government’s strong commitment to expanding cancer care services nationwide and highlighted the Union Budget 2025–26 announcement to establish Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) in every district—an initiative aimed at decentralising cancer treatment, reducing pressure on tertiary centres, and ensuring timely chemotherapy and follow-up care.
She stressed the need to build a continuum of cancer care, starting from community-level screening and extending to district-level services and advanced treatment and underscored that the National Programme for Prevention and Control of NCDs (NP-NCD) remains central to improving access and patient outcomes.
Release of Key Policy Documents
During the inaugural session, the Union Health Secretary released several key documents:
• NP-NCD Training Modules
• FRU Guidelines 2025
• Operational Guidelines for Strengthening Laboratory Services under the Free Diagnostics Initiative
As reported by pib.gov.in, the session also included presentations on DCCC models, standardised cancer treatment workflows, digital monitoring platforms, integration of viral hepatitis screening, and quality assurance through NQAS.
Experts and States Share Models and Best Practices
Experts from NHSRC, Tata Memorial Centre, AHPGIC Odisha, NCDC, and ICMR shared valuable insights. They focused on strengthening clinical and programmatic pathways in cancer care.
States such as Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh presented best practices in cancer screening, community engagement, and district-level service delivery—providing replicable models for other States/UTs.
Strategies to Strengthen Integrated Cancer Care
A national panel of cancer specialists and programme leaders deliberated on strategies to create an integrated cancer care ecosystem. The panel emphasised enhancing multidisciplinary coordination and improving early detection. They also called for expanding district-level capacity and strengthening referral pathways from Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to higher treatment centres.
States and UTs reiterated their commitment to rolling out DCCCs and adopting Standard Treatment Workflows. They also pledged to scale up screening for common cancers and improve referral linkages.
Day Two Focuses on Urban Health Strengthening
The second day of the workshop shifted focus to the urban health agenda under the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). Addressing participants, the Union Health Secretary stressed the need for States and UTs to respond proactively to rising urban health challenges. This is especially critical in the context of rapid urbanisation.
Revised NUHM Framework Presented
Ms. Aradhana Pattnaik, Additional Secretary & Mission Director (NHM), emphasised adopting integrated strategies. She also stressed the need for city-specific approaches to strengthen urban health systems. Mr. Saurabh Jain, Joint Secretary (Policy), MoHFW, presented the revised draft NUHM framework, designed to improve urban health service delivery across cities and towns.
Key Priorities for Urban Primary Healthcare
Discussions highlighted several priorities for strengthening urban primary healthcare, including:
• Improving infrastructure
• Enhancing service delivery
• Strengthening referral linkages
• Deepening convergence between Urban Local Bodies and State Health Departments
States also showcased innovative models and best practices addressing diverse urban health challenges.
Ministry Reaffirms Commitment to Stronger Urban Health Systems
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to refining the NUHM framework and strengthening governance and monitoring systems. It also aims to make urban primary healthcare more accessible, equitable, and resilient, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable.