Vidisha Gets Day-Care Cancer Unit as Centre Pushes Care Beyond Metros
India's cancer burden necessitates expanding care beyond metros. A new day-care facility at Vidisha Medical College, supported by TMC, marks a step in this direction.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated a Day-Care Cancer Facility at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College in Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, on [date of event]. The facility is being developed with technical support from the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
Speaking at the event, Dr Singh emphasized that India's rising cancer burden requires a sustained expansion of care facilities at various levels, ensuring patients can access quality treatment closer to home. He noted that the DAE, through TMC, is working to bring comprehensive cancer care—from treatment and radiation to prevention and early detection—to different parts of the country. He also called for public cooperation in checking practices like food adulteration that could contribute to the cancer burden.
The Vidisha initiative is part of a phased effort. A Cancer Gap Care Analysis was conducted by a TMC specialist team in June 2026, alongside a large-scale screening camp that identified 586 cancer patients and 254 suspected cases. The newly inaugurated day-care facility is the first step; plans include a radiotherapy unit with a Linear Accelerator (LINAC) within two to three years, strengthening pathology and diagnostics, and establishing cancer registries.
Manpower development is a key component. Two doctors and seven nursing officers from Vidisha have completed oncology training at ACTREC, Mumbai, with further training for surgeons scheduled. The programme also includes developing dedicated palliative-care services.
Dr Singh contextualized the Vidisha launch within a broader national strategy. He cited projections of around two million new cancer cases annually in India by 2030, making expansion beyond major metropolitan centres critical. TMC's network now includes 11 institutional units across seven states, complemented by the National Cancer Grid (NCG), which connects over 380 cancer centres and related organisations for quality improvement, standardisation, and training. The goal, he said, is to create a system where expertise from established centres progressively supports institutions across the country.