As per the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, 2.5 million people live with cancer in India, and every year, at least over 7 lakh cancer patients are registered. The data also shows that India has lodged around 5,56,400 cancer-related deaths. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare cited ICMR data and noted that 100 our of 1 lakh people are diagnosed with cancer. The National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP) under ICMR has been tracking cancer incidence and burden since 1982 and it has played an essential role in enabling evidence-based policy decision. This has made cancer care more accessible in India, as the policies now focus more on cancer centers, availing cancer care, financial aid, and more. Cancer Care In IndiaIn fact, the Union Budget for 2025-26 is Rs.99,858.56 crore, with Rs. 95,957.87 crore designated for the Department of Health and Family Welfare and Rs. 3,900.69 crore for the Department of Health Research. The Union Budget also has taken key initiatives like day care cancer center, and custom duty exemptions for 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines essential for treating cancer. Six lifesaving medicines have given concessional customs duty of 5%.Robust Infrastructure That Extends Cancer CareAs per the Indian Journal of Medical Research's 2024 study by ICMR, India has a robust indigenous pharmaceutical industry that produces cancer and other drugs at some of the lowest costs in the world. There is also a large network of private-sector healthcare facilities that range from low-cost to modern corporate facilities. India has also welcomed digital health and artificial-intelligence (AI)-based solutions in cancer care, especially in the domain of cancer care and control, which has represented a promising advance. India's First Homegrown CAR T-Cell TherapyCAR T-cell therapy is a personalized form of immunotherapy that genetically modifies a patient's T-cell, a type of immune cell, in a laboratory to recognize and kill specific cancer cell. In October 2023, notes the National Cancer Institute, US, India's counterpart to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, made NexCAR19 India's first approved CAR-T cell therapy. The approval was based on the results of two small clinical trials conducted in India and was funded by ImmunoACT, a spin-off company of IIT Bombay. What More India Is Doing In Making Cancer Care AccessibleIndia is gradually stepping ahead by combining innovation and accessibility to advance cancer care in India. In an attempt to better understand how India is taking a step ahead in cancer care, the upcoming Times Now Health Summit is hosting a session on 'Advancing Cancer Care in India: Bridging Innovation and Accessibility'. The session will feature experts from the field, including oncologists, entrepreneur, and those who have painstakingly worked to make cancer care more accessible. The panel will feature Anchal Sharma, Social Entrepreneur Founder Canheal, Dinesh G, Therapy Area Head/Business Unit Head - Oncology, Novartis, Dr. Shyam Aggarwal, Chairperson Oncology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, and Dr. Shyam Aggarwal, Chairperson Oncology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.For more details, visit TIMES NETWORK INDIA HEALTH SUMMIT 2025.