Dedicated to cancer care, 3 Pb hospitals battle staff crunch
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Chandigarh: Even as Punjab battles a growing cancer burden, three premier institutions designated for cancer care in the state are operating under severe manpower shortages, seriously undermining service delivery despite significant financial and infrastructural investment.
Punjab has recorded a consistent increase in cancer cases. According to data from the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Cancer Registry Programme (ICMR–NCRP), the estimated number of cases rose from 39,521 in 2021 to 42,288 in 2024, a 7% increase. The incidence is projected to reach 49,922 by 2026, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen oncology services across the state.
In response to a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, the Union health ministry stated that cancer care infrastructure in Punjab has been expanded under the Strengthening of Tertiary Care Cancer Facilities scheme.
A State Cancer Institute (SCI) was established at Government Medical College, Amritsar, and a Tertiary Care Cancer Centre (TCCC) is functional at civil hospital, Fazilka. While radiotherapy and chemotherapy services are available in Amritsar, Fazilka currently offers only chemotherapy.
Also, the Tata Memorial Centre has operationalised two dedicated cancer care facilities -- the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital (HBCH) in Sangrur and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (HBCH&RC) in New Chandigarh.
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Severe Staffing Shortages Across Facilities
Despite these developments, staffing remains critically inadequate. At Government Medical College, Amritsar, only 19 out of 43 sanctioned posts are filled, with 24 (55.81%) lying vacant. This includes all senior resident positions in radiotherapy, most posts in surgical oncology, and the entire Nuclear Medicine and Medical Oncology departments.
At civil hospital, Fazilka, only 4 out of 28 sanctioned posts (14.28%) have been filled.
The hospital lacks professors and associate professors in radiotherapy and surgical oncology, and preventive oncology is short of an assistant professor.
The situation is equally dire at the Tata Memorial Centre-run facilities. Out of 637 sanctioned posts at HBCH Sangrur and HBCH&RC New Chandigarh, 393 (61.69%) are vacant. This includes major gaps in medical, scientific, technical, and nursing staff -- 223 nursing posts remain unfilled out of a sanctioned strength of 340.
Funding and Patient
Support Measures
The Union health ministry reported that Government Medical College, Amritsar, received a total sanction of Rs 114.61 crore, with Rs 55.88 crore released. Civil hospital, Fazilka was allotted Rs 44.71 crore, with Rs 20.12 crore disbursed. The Tata Memorial Centre's two cancer hospitals were sanctioned Rs 663.71 crore, of which Rs 602.23 crore has already been utilised.
To ease the financial burden on patients, the Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Rahat Kosh Scheme (MMPCRKS) offers assistance of up to Rs 1.5 lakh per cancer patient through empanelled hospitals.
Under Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), families receive Rs 5 lakh per year for secondary and tertiary care treatment. The scheme has also been extended to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income.
To reduce out-of-pocket expenses, the government has launched initiatives like the National Free Drugs and Diagnostics Services, Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMBJP), and AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment). The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped ceiling prices of 131 scheduled anti-cancer formulations and fixed retail prices for 28 others. Customs duty has been waived, and GST has been reduced from 12% to 5% on three anti-cancer drugs in 2024–25.
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