Archive · 26 Jul 2025
Radiotherapy Access Gap in India: Study Highlights Deficiencies
Imagine people with cancer need special radiation treatment to get better.
But in India, not enough people who need this treatment can get it.
A study showed that many cancer patients don't have access to the machines that give this treatment.
The World Health Organization says there should be more of these machines.
This means that more machines are needed to help more people who are sick.
There is a big need for more equipment and trained doctors to fight cancer better in India.
Study reveals a significant gap in radiotherapy access for cancer patients in India.
Only 28.5% of cancer patients needing radiotherapy receive it, far below the 58.4% requirement.
Lymphoma, lung, and prostate cancer patients experience the lowest radiotherapy utilization.
India has only 794 radiotherapy machines, less than the WHO recommendation.
Scaling up radiotherapy infrastructure could improve cancer treatment outcomes.
- Who
- ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research)
- What
- Study reveals a gap in radiotherapy access in India.
- When
- Study was published in BMC Cancer journal.
- Where
- India
- Why
- To highlight the need to scale up radiotherapy infrastructure for better cancer care.
- Radiotherapy Requirement
- 58.4%
- Radiotherapy Utilization
- 28.5%
- Radiotherapy Machines in India
- 794
- WHO Recommendation
- 1 machine per million population (minimum)
- Gap Lowest For
- Brain cancer
- Gap Highest For
- Lymphomas
