Archive · 19 Jul 2026
India Faces Growing Cancer Crisis
India is facing a big problem with cancer.
More and more people are getting cancer, and by 2025, there might be 15.7 lakh new cases.
This number could go up to 22.2 lakh by 2040.
Hospitals are making a lot of money from treating cancer, but it's very expensive for patients.
Treatments like chemotherapy and surgery can cost a lot of money, and many families can't afford it.
The government needs to do more to help people get affordable and good healthcare.
Right now, not enough money is being spent on health, and many people are getting poor because of medical bills.
The government should take care of cancer treatment as a public responsibility.
India is projected to have 15.7 lakh new cancer cases by 2025, rising to 22.2 lakh by 2040.
Oncology accounts for 17-25% of hospital revenues, with Max Healthcare and Apollo Hospitals generating significant income from cancer care.
Cancer treatments in private hospitals are expensive, with chemotherapy costing ₹30,000 to ₹2 lakh per cycle and surgeries ranging from ₹3-10 lakh.
Over 70% of patients require multiple treatments, exhausting insurance coverage and pushing families into poverty.
The government spends less than 2% of GDP on health, falling short of the aimed 2.5% as per the National Health Policy 2017.
- Who
- Indian population, healthcare providers, and government
- What
- Growing cancer crisis and its economic impact
- When
- Projected increase in cancer cases by 2025 and 2040
- Where
- India
- Why
- Increasing incidence due to toxic air and food, lifestyle changes, and aging population
- Projected New Cancer Cases in 2025
- 15.7 lakh
- Projected New Cancer Cases in 2040
- 22.2 lakh
- Percentage of Hospital Revenues from Oncology (Max Healthcare)
- 25%
- Percentage of Hospital Revenues from Oncology (Apollo Hospitals)
- 17%
- Cost of One Chemotherapy Cycle in Private Hospital
- ₹30,000 to ₹2 lakh
- Cost of Radiation Therapy in Private Hospital
- ₹2-5 lakh
- Cost of Cancer Surgery in Private Hospital
- ₹3-10 lakh
- Cost of Targeted Therapies and Immunotherapy in Private Hospital
- ₹1-4 lakh
- Cost of Bone Marrow Transplants in Private Hospital
- ₹15-40 lakh
- Percentage of Patients Requiring Multiple Treatments
- 70%
- Out of Pocket Expenditure in Total Health Expense (2013-14)
- 64.2%
- Out of Pocket Expenditure in Total Health Expense (2022-23)
- 43.4%
- Government Spending on Health
- Less than 2% of GDP
- Aimed Spending on Public Health (National Health Policy 2017)
- 2.5% of GDP