Odisha’s rising cancer burden calls for early detection, equitable access toadvanced therapies, and a dedicated state cancer care fund.

Cuttack : 17 June 2026( Pratyusha Bureau) Odisha is witnessing a rising cancer burden, with increasing incidence and late-stagepresentation placing mounting strain on families and the health system. Oral, breast, cervical, GIcancers and lung cancers remain among the leading threats, underscoring the need for timelyscreening, early diagnosis, and uninterrupted, evidence-based treatment.The Government of Odisha has long prioritized Universal Health Coverage. To expand access tohospital-based care and shield vulnerable families from catastrophic health expenditure, the stateimplemented the Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana (GJAY), covering major specialties includingoncology. Families receive annual coverage of INR 5 lakh, with an additional INR 5 lakh for womenbeneficiaries once the initial limit is exhausted. Initially aligned with Ayushman Bharat PM-JAYpackages, Odisha recently introduced a state-specific oncology package that adds multipleinnovative therapies across multiple innovative therapies procedures, making Odisha the first statein India to take this step under a state insurance scheme. As cancer care evolves, ensuring efficientuse of these benefits is critical so eligible patients can start and complete full treatment courses thatimprove outcomes.Urgent burden indicators from Odisha highlight the need for earlier detection and sustainedtreatment continuity. Approximately 60% of cancer patients in the state die within a year ofdiagnosis, largely due to late detection and delays in care, while an estimated 60,000 new cancercases are recorded annually. These figures reflect substantial unmet needs and the human cost oflate presentation. In Khordha, the population-based cancer registry recorded over 1,600 incidentcases in 2022 (49.5% male, 50.5% female). Among men, the most common sites were mouth,stomach, lung, tongue, and prostate; among women, breast, ovary, cervix uteri, stomach, andgallbladder. National projections from the ICMR-National Cancer Registry Programme indicateabout a 13% increase in India’s total cancer burden between 2020 and 2025, with one in nineIndians likely to develop cancer in their lifetime. Together, these trends heighten the urgency ofpolicies that protect treatment continuity and deliver better value for money.Dr. Saroj Das Majumdar, HOD Radiation Oncology, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, said,” Since 2022, cancerhas been a reportable disease in Odisha, requiring all diagnosed cases to be notified within twoweeks. GJAY has been a lifeline for many families, and the state-specific oncology package is acommendable advance. Yet current ceilings pose challenges to adopting and continuing advancedtherapies for the recommended duration. Without expanded financial protection, patients riskincomplete treatment, directly affecting survival and quality of life. Strengthening coverage willenable earlier initiation and appropriate continuity of care, improving outcomes and reducing long-term hospitalization costs. Financial ceilings must not become treatment ceilings.”