New Delhi, November 29, 2025
The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare organised a two-day National Workshop on Strengthening Cancer Care and Urban Health on November 27–28 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi. The event brought together Principal Secretaries, Mission Directors (NHM), senior officials, and State/UT Nodal Officers involved in cancer control, non-communicable diseases, and urban health programmes.
The workshop was inaugurated by Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary (Health & Family Welfare), who reiterated the Government’s continued focus on strengthening cancer services across the country. She highlighted the Union Budget 2025–26 announcement to establish Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) in every district, aimed at decentralising cancer treatment, easing pressure on tertiary facilities, and ensuring timely chemotherapy and follow-up care closer to communities.
Smt. Srivastava stressed the need for a comprehensive continuum of cancer care — from community-level screening to advanced treatment, noting that the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) plays a central role in improving accessibility and outcomes.
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Key Policy Documents Released
During the inaugural session, the Union Health Secretary released three major policy documents:
NP-NCD Training Modules
FRU (First Referral Unit) Guidelines 2025
Operational Guidelines for Strengthening Laboratory Services under the Free Diagnostics Initiative
The workshop also featured presentations on DCCC implementation models, standard treatment workflows, digital monitoring platforms, viral hepatitis screening integration, and NQAS-based quality assurance mechanisms.
Experts from NHSRC, Tata Memorial Centre, AHPGIC Odisha, NCDC, and ICMR shared clinical and programmatic insights. States including Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh showcased best practices in community-linked cancer screening and district-level service delivery, offering scalable models for nationwide adoption.
A national panel of cancer specialists and programme leaders discussed strategies to build an integrated cancer care ecosystem, improve early detection, strengthen multidisciplinary coordination, and streamline referrals from Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to higher centres. States and UTs reaffirmed their commitment to rolling out DCCCs and strengthening cancer screening and treatment pathways.
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Focus on Urban Health Under NUHM
The second day of the workshop centred on the urban health agenda under the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). Addressing the participants, Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava called on States and UTs to respond proactively to evolving urban health challenges, considering rapid urbanisation.
Ms. Aradhana Pattnaik, Additional Secretary & Mission Director (NHM), underscored the need for integrated and city-specific strategies for strengthening urban health systems. Mr. Saurabh Jain, Joint Secretary (Policy), MoHFW, presented the revised draft NUHM framework to improve healthcare delivery in urban areas.
Discussions focused on key priorities for improving urban primary healthcare, including:
Strengthening infrastructure
Enhancing service delivery
Strengthening referral linkages
Increasing convergence between Urban Local Bodies and State Health Departments
States also shared innovative models for addressing major urban health challenges.
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Commitment to Accessible and Equitable Urban Healthcare
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to:
Refining the NUHM framework
Strengthening governance and monitoring systems
Ensuring accessible, equitable, and resilient urban primary healthcare — especially for the poorest and most vulnerable populations
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