Radiotherapy Demand and Shortfall in India’s Cancer Care
Radiotherapy remains a vital treatment for cancer patients in India. However, its expansion faces challenges due to high costs and planning gaps. A recent study by the Indian Council for Medical Research marks the urgent need to increase radiotherapy access to meet the growing cancer burden projected for 2025.
Cancer Burden and Radiotherapy Needs in India
India ranks third globally in cancer incidence with 7 per cent of cases. By 2025, new cancer cases are expected to reach 1.57 million. Cancer is the fifth leading cause of death in India. Breast, head and neck, lung and cervical cancers form 60 per cent of radiotherapy demand. Yet, only 28.5 per cent of patients receive radiotherapy, far below the optimal 58.4 per cent. This gap indicates a major shortfall in treatment availability.
Estimating Radiotherapy Utilisation and Equipment Shortfall
The study used data from the National Cancer Registry Programme and international cancer research collaborations. It calculated optimal radiotherapy fractions and compared them with current usage. Findings show deficit in radiotherapy machines. India currently has 794 megavoltage machines, while the WHO recommends a minimum of one machine per million people, translating to 1,450 machines for India’s population in 2025. The actual need could be between 1,585 and 2,545 machines, potentially rising to over 2,000 for external beam radiotherapy alone.
Disparities in Radiotherapy Access
The shortfall is especially severe for lymphoma and lung cancer patients, with deficits exceeding 70 per cent. Prostate, breast and oesophageal cancers also face considerable gaps. The distribution of radiotherapy services is uneven across regions. This inequity limits access for many patients, worsening health outcomes. The study stresses the need for better planning to ensure equitable service deployment.
Challenges in Expansion and Future Directions
High setup and operational costs hinder radiotherapy expansion. India is investing in indigenous radiotherapy machines to reduce import dependence and costs. Detailed assessments of equipment usage and throughput are necessary for effective policy and resource allocation. Strengthening cancer screening and early detection can reduce advanced-stage cases, lowering radiotherapy demand and improving survival rates.
Policy Implications and Strategic Priorities
Meeting WHO standards requires urgent scaling up of radiotherapy infrastructure. Policymakers must focus on increasing machine numbers and distributing them fairly. Integrating radiotherapy expansion with cancer control programmes will optimise resource use. Investment in technology, training and maintenance is critical to sustain services. This approach will help bridge the gap between cancer burden and treatment capacity in India.
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