Health and Me

Rachel V Thomas

Cancer: AIIMS-led Study Pushes For Inclusion of Early Detection, Diagnosis Under Ayushman Bharat

Even as India’s flagship health insurance program, Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), has significantly benefited <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/cancer">cancer</a></span> patients in the country, oncologists and health economists led by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in a new study have urged for including early cancer detection in its coverage.

AB PM-JAY has, since its launch in 2018, provided crucial financial protection and timely access, reducing financial burden as well as out-of-pocket expenditure for people from poor and vulnerable families suffering from the deadly condition.

However, the study, led by Dr. <span>Abhishek Shankar</span>, an assistant professor in the department of radiation oncology at <span>AIIMS</span>, Delhi, flagged a huge gap between current and required funding.

While AB PM-JAY currently allocates about Rs 7,700 crore per year for cancer, the full five-year Standard of Care (SoC) for cancer, including diagnostics, surgery, targeted drugs, radiotherapy, and follow-up, would require an estimated Rs 33,000 crore annually, revealed the study.

"Better cancer care is not only about spending more, but it is also about spending smarter, especially where early detection and diagnosis and well-designed coverage can prevent both late-stage suffering and catastrophic costs,” said Dr. Shankar.

"This will be a useful strategic shift away from purely increasing budgets toward optimizing care pathways and resource allocation, and also prioritizing early detection," he added.

<h2>How AB PM-JAY Has Benefitted Cancer Patients In India </h2>

AB PM-JAY, the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance scheme, was launched in 2018 to provide health cover to 55 crore people, corresponding to 12.34 crore poor and vulnerable families.

The government covers up to 5 lakh rupees for treatment such as <span>chemotherapy</span> for breast, ovarian, colorectal, cervical and bone cancers.

As per the latest data from the Health Ministry, India has seen a significant rise in the cancer burden, with the cases rising to 1,569,793 in 2025.

AB PM-JAY has reportedly provided cover for over 68 lakh cancer treatments, worth around Rs 13,000 crore. 

1. The study proposed to add the five-year Standard of Care (SoC) for cancer under the AB-PMJAY program. It said that, including diagnosis and treatment: 

<ul><li>will save about Rs 1,500 crore annually </li><li>lead to 1,560 additional survivors per year</li></ul> 

2. A five-year "revolving ceiling" of Rs 25 lakh per family, instead of the current Rs 5 lakh annual cap

3. A top-up facility of Rs 10 lakh for high-stage cancers 

4. Adding diagnostic coverage and screening support

5. Integrating screening and diagnostics via Health and Wellness Centers under the National Health Mission

"India needs a more balanced framework for evaluating cancer innovations, one that considers not only cost but also the value delivered to patients, society and the health system," said Dr Monika Puri, Public Health Expert.

"Eligible funds for cancer patients should be advanced in the first year itself so that they can complete the intensive treatments and therapies required during the initial phase," said Dr. Sudha Chandrashekhar, Former Executive Director, National Health Authority. She suggested that such support could later be adjusted against entitlement in subsequent years.

Health Conditions A-Z

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Ayushman Bharat

Cancer

AB PM JAY

chemotherapy

abhishek shankar

cancer screening

national health mission  india

aiims

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Even as India’s flagship health insurance program, Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), has significantly benefited cancer patients in the country, oncologists and health economists led by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in a new study have urged for including early cancer detection in its coverage. AB PM-JAY has, since its launch in 2018, provided crucial financial protection and timely access, reducing financial burden as well as out-of-pocket expenditure for people from poor and vulnerable families suffering from the deadly condition. However, the study, led by Dr. Abhishek Shankar, an assistant professor in the department of radiation oncology at AIIMS, Delhi, flagged a huge gap between current and required funding. While AB PM-JAY currently allocates about Rs 7,700 crore per year for cancer, the full five-year Standard of Care (SoC) for cancer, including diagnostics, surgery, targeted drugs, radiotherapy, and follow-up, would require an estimated Rs 33,000 crore annually, revealed the study. "Better cancer care is not only about spending more, but it is also about spending smarter, especially where early detection and diagnosis and well-designed coverage can prevent both late-stage suffering and catastrophic costs,” said Dr. Shankar. "This will be a useful strategic shift away from purely increasing budgets toward optimizing care pathways and resource allocation, and also prioritizing early detection," he added.How AB PM-JAY Has Benefitted Cancer Patients In India AB PM-JAY, the world’s largest publicly funded health insurance scheme, was launched in 2018 to provide health cover to 55 crore people, corresponding to 12.34 crore poor and vulnerable families. The government covers up to 5 lakh rupees for treatment such as chemotherapy for breast, ovarian, colorectal, cervical and bone cancers.As per the latest data from the Health Ministry, India has seen a significant rise in the cancer burden, with the cases rising to 1,569,793 in 2025.AB PM-JAY has reportedly provided cover for over 68 lakh cancer treatments, worth around Rs 13,000 crore.  What The Study Proposes 1. The study proposed to add the five-year Standard of Care (SoC) for cancer under the AB-PMJAY program. It said that, including diagnosis and treatment: will save about Rs 1,500 crore annually lead to 1,560 additional survivors per year 2. A five-year "revolving ceiling" of Rs 25 lakh per family, instead of the current Rs 5 lakh annual cap3. A top-up facility of Rs 10 lakh for high-stage cancers 4. Adding diagnostic coverage and screening support5. Integrating screening and diagnostics via Health and Wellness Centers under the National Health Mission "India needs a more balanced framework for evaluating cancer innovations, one that considers not only cost but also the value delivered to patients, society and the health system," said Dr Monika Puri, Public Health Expert. "Eligible funds for cancer patients should be advanced in the first year itself so that they can complete the intensive treatments and therapies required during the initial phase," said Dr. Sudha Chandrashekhar, Former Executive Director, National Health Authority. She suggested that such support could later be adjusted against entitlement in subsequent years.