SRINAGAR: The Government on Wednesday told Parliament that the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has emerged as a critical pillar in India’s fight against cancer, with Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) leading research, treatment and advanced therapies, and its network now extended to 11 hospitals across seven states.
Replying to a starred question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jitendra Singh, said the TMC under the DAE is providing “comprehensive evidence-based cancer treatment” and has taken a leadership role in shaping both national and international policy on cancer care. Of the 11 hospitals planned under TMC, eight are already functional while three are under construction, he told the House.
The government highlighted that TMC’s contributions range from promoting evidence-based oncology services and imparting education to medical professionals to pioneering affordable and innovative research tailored to Indian needs.
On major breakthroughs, the reply listed the National Facility for Hadron Beam Therapy at ACTREC, India’s first indigenously developed CAR T-cell therapy, the PREVALL oral suspension of Mercaptopurine for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, the nutraceutical “Aktocyte” for cancer care, indigenous Y-90 microspheres called “Bhabhaspheres” for trans-arterial radioembolisation, and the country’s largest therapeutic nuclear medicine unit.
Responding to queries about accessibility and affordability, Singh said that the National Cancer Grid (NCG), anchored by TMC, is already connecting 382 organisations across India and providing treatment to nearly 8.5 lakh new cancer cases annually. The minister said this grid has the potential for a “massive and far-reaching impact” in ensuring advanced therapies reach the general public.
In the specific case of Dewas and Shajapur constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, he said patients can already access care at centres linked to the NCG, including Bansal Hospital in Bhopal, BIMR Oncology Centre in Gwalior, Chirayu Medical College in Bhopal, the Indian Institute of Head & Neck Oncology in Indore, Shalby Hospital Indore, and several other facilities across Bhopal, Gwalior, Satna, Betul and Indore. The minister added that TMC will extend its hub-and-spoke network in phases, eventually covering more constituencies.
Addressing concerns about health impacts of nuclear facilities, Singh informed the House that epidemiological surveys and annual medical check-ups at all nuclear power plants, including Tarapur in Palghar, Maharashtra, had shown “no adverse health impacts” on employees or residents. He said morbidity patterns, including cancer incidence and birth defects, were found to be lower than the national average, according to studies carried out by reputed medical colleges in collaboration with TMC.
The reply underlined that the DAE’s cancer-care model integrates advanced treatment facilities with an outreach network, and that future expansion will make cutting-edge therapies both more accessible and affordable across India.
