Bringing Cancer Care closer to home: Daycare Centers to bring relief to rural patients, say doctors

Anantnag, Feb 02: The announcement by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman regarding the establishment of 200 daycare cancer centers in district hospitals across India has garnered widespread praise from the medical community. This initiative, which aims to decentralise cancer care, has been particularly welcomed by healthcare professionals working at the grassroots level, who believe it will significantly ease the burden on patients.
Dr. Mohamad Ashraf Teli and Dr. Shahid Bashir Wani, both esteemed professors of Radiation Oncology at Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag, lauded the initiative, highlighting its potential to make cancer treatment more accessible to patients, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Dr. Teli, a senior professor at GMC Anantnag, emphasized the significance of daycare wards in district hospitals, noting that Anantnag serves as a major catchment area for cancer patients from surrounding districts.
“We treat many cancer patients from neighboring districts, and we are also serving some areas of Jammu. While we have initiated daycare services at a basic level, a fully equipped daycare ward would be a game-changer. Without such facilities, patients are forced to travel to cities for routine procedures, which is both expensive and inconvenient,” Dr. Teli explained.
He pointed out that the department had registered 500 new cancer patients in the previous year alone, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced infrastructure.
“The government’s plan to establish daycare centers in all districts, with the support of the Ministry of Health, is very promising. It will be a tremendous relief for patients. Our principal at GMC has been very supportive, and we’ve made some progress with his assistance. However, we need more financial and infrastructural backing for further development,” Dr. Teli added.
Dr. Shahid Bashir Wani, Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology at GMC Anantnag, also expressed his optimism about the initiative. He attributed the rising number of cancer cases to advancements in diagnostic technology, which has led to earlier and more frequent detections.
“Cancer is becoming more prevalent, primarily due to improvements in diagnostic techniques. Consequently, the number of detected cases has significantly increased,” Dr. Wani said. “After Srinagar, Anantnag ranks second in terms of cancer cases. Given the high patient load, establishing a fully equipped daycare center with advanced facilities would be highly beneficial.”
Dr. Wani further stressed the importance of decentralizing cancer treatment. He argued that cancer care should not be confined to tertiary care hospitals, especially considering the growing number of cases across the region.
“It is not feasible for all cancer treatment to be concentrated in Srinagar or GMC Srinagar. Decentralizing care and providing at least chemotherapy services at every district hospital would be a major relief for patients. Not only would this reduce the travel burden on patients, but it would also alleviate the strain on the oncology departments of state cancer institutes,” Dr. Wani added.
As the government moves forward with this crucial initiative, experts like Dr. Teli and Dr. Wani remain optimistic that it will make cancer treatment more accessible and affordable, bringing much-needed relief to thousands of patients across the country.