New Delhi: The Ayush Ministry has urged a renewed commitment to strengthening public awareness, prevention, and early detection of cancer. It underscored that a proactive, people-centric approach is vital as cancer continues to impose a heavy burden on India’s public health system.
Globally, cancer remains the second leading cause of death, responsible for nearly 10 million fatalities each year. In India, the disease accounts for an estimated 14.6 lakh new cases annually, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The most prevalent forms include breast, cervical, oral and lung cancers, with lifestyle-related factors contributing significantly to their rise. Oral and cervical cancers remain particularly common among Indian populations due to tobacco use, poor diet and limited screening access.
In his address on the occasion of National Cancer Awareness Day, Prataprao Jadhav, Union minister of state for Ayush and minister of state for health & family welfare, emphasised that safeguarding public health requires early detection, awareness and preventive care. “Cancer prevention must begin with empowering communities to adopt healthy lifestyles, seek timely screening and access holistic, affordable care,” he said. He added that integrative models combining modern oncology with Ayush systems can significantly improve patients’ quality of life, especially among vulnerable groups.
Up to 40% of cancers can be prevented through sustained lifestyle changes — avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, eating plant-based diets, maintaining a healthy weight, staying active and reducing exposure to pollutants. (Photo courtesy: PickPic)
A large proportion of the cancer burden stems from preventable risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, environmental pollution and HPV infections. Experts note that up to 40% of cancers can be prevented through sustained lifestyle changes — avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, eating plant-based diets, maintaining a healthy weight, staying active and reducing exposure to pollutants. Early detection further improves survival rates, particularly for cancers like breast, cervical and oral, which can be treated more effectively when identified early.
Highlighting the ministry’s ongoing initiatives, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, secretary, ministry of Ayush, said India’s growing network of integrative cancer-care centres reflects the government’s commitment to evidence-based, patient-centric solutions. “Centres of excellence and partnerships with institutions such as Tata Memorial Centre-ACTREC, Arya Vaidya Sala and AIIMS are helping generate new therapeutic insights, improve symptom management and enhance quality of life for patients,” he noted.
At TMC-ACTREC, Mumbai, a centre of excellence focuses on integrative care and Ayush drug discovery, supporting in-silico, preclinical and clinical studies, specialised OPDs and capacity building. Similarly, the Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal, has treated over 26,000 cancer patients, including 338 lung cancer cases in the last two years, demonstrating the benefits of integrated and supportive care models.
The ministry reiterated that India’s cancer response must rest on three pillars — prevention, early diagnosis and integrative supportive care. Strengthening public awareness, improving screening access and promoting holistic health practices are seen as key to reducing the national cancer burden.
By combining modern medicine with the preventive and rehabilitative strengths of the Ayush systems, India aims to create a comprehensive, patient-centred approach that enhances both survival outcomes and overall wellbeing for millions facing cancer.