NOV 29:The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare conducted a two-day National Workshop on Strengthening Cancer Care and Urban Health on 27–28 November at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The event, inaugurated by Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, brought together Principal Secretaries, NHM Mission Directors, senior officials, and Nodal Officers from States and Union Territories involved in cancer control, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and urban health.
In her keynote address, the Health Secretary reiterated the government’s commitment to expanding cancer care services across India. She highlighted the Union Budget 2025–26 announcement to establish Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) in every district, a step aimed at decentralising cancer management and reducing the load on tertiary hospitals. She stressed the importance of building a cohesive continuum of care—from early community screening to district-level treatment and advanced care services—under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of NCDs (NP-NCD).
During the inaugural session, several key policy documents were released, including the NP-NCD Training Modules, FRU Guidelines 2025, and the Operational Guidelines for Strengthening Laboratory Services under the Free Diagnostics Initiative. Presentations covered DCCC operational models, standard workflows for common cancers, digital monitoring platforms, viral hepatitis screening integration, and NQAS-based quality assurance systems.
Experts from leading institutions such as Tata Memorial Centre, NHSRC, NCDC, AHPGIC Odisha, and ICMR shared technical insights on enhancing clinical and programmatic pathways. States including Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh showcased successful models in cancer screening, community outreach, and district-level service delivery.
The second day focused on the urban health agenda under the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). The Health Secretary urged States and UTs to respond proactively to emerging urban health needs in light of rapidly growing urban populations. Senior officials, including Additional Secretary & Mission Director (NHM) Ms. Aradhana Pattnaik, highlighted the need for integrated, city-specific strategies, while Joint Secretary (Policy) Mr. Saurabh Jain shared the revised NUHM draft framework.
Discussions underlined priorities such as stronger infrastructure, enhanced service delivery, improved referral systems, and deeper coordination between Urban Local Bodies and State Health Departments. The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to creating an accessible, equitable, and resilient urban primary healthcare ecosystem.
