Latest news with #AyushmanBharatArogyaKarnataka
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Approvals for oncology procedures rise under Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka scheme
Bengaluru: Access to cancer care under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) scheme has expanded, with approvals for oncology procedures rising six-fold over seven years, from 9,328 in 2018-19 to 60,301 in 2024-25, according to health department data. In 2024-25, the scheme pre-authorised 60,301 oncology procedures at A cost of Rs 271.7 crore. Of these, 56% were for medical oncology (primarily chemotherapy), 25% for radiation oncology, and 19% involved surgical oncology. The scheme benefited approximately 59,000 priority household (PHH) beneficiaries and 1,212 non-PHH individuals. Data sourced by TOI indicated a heavier reliance on private hospitals, which handled 56% of the total procedures, accounting for 67% of the expenditure, while govt hospitals handled 44% of the caseload. As per the population-based cancer registry at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Karnataka faces a high cancer burden, with an estimated 1 lakh new cases and a prevalence of 2.3 lakh existing cases annually. A senior health department official said, "In Karnataka, the lifetime risk of developing cancer is one in seven among men and one in six for women. However, 77% of breast cancer cases and 91% of cervical cancer cases are detected in the early stages. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo " The state currently offers tertiary-level cancer care through the scheme, aiming to improve accessibility through Karnataka. A total of 109 hospitals — 13 govt and 96 private — are empanelled under the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust. The network includes eight govt medical colleges and 22 private medical colleges offering specialised oncology services. Since 2022-23, Kidwai institute alone has conducted 51,418 oncology procedures — the highest among govt institutions. It is followed by Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (5,123), VTSM Peripheral Cancer Centre in Kalaburagi (4,690), Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences in Hubballi (4,189), and Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences in Ballari (836). Among private hospitals, Bharat Hospital and Institute of Oncology in Mysuru leads with 6,204 procedures. Box 1 Districts sans oncology coverage under scheme - Bidar - Yadgir - Vijayanagara - Koppal - Chitradurga - Chikkaballapur - Ramanagara - Kodagu - Chamarajanagar - Chikkamangaluru BOX 2 Utilisation of oncology procedures Year Procedure count Approved amount 2018-19 9,328 Rs 52 lakh 2019-20 31,715 Rs 1.7cr 2020-21 29,862 Rs 1.5cr 2021-22 34,627 Rs 1.8cr 2022-23 43,356 Rs 2.1cr 2023-24 52,547 Rs 2.4cr 2024-25 60,301 Rs 2.7cr BOX 3 Utilisation by oncology type Year Medical Radiation Surgical Total cases Approved amount 2022-23 21,472 12,881 9,003 43,356 Rs 2.1cr 2023-24 28,565 14,159 9,823 52,547 Rs 2.4cr 2024-25 33,893 15,341 11,067 60,301 Rs 2.7cr — Source: Health department
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Utilisation of oncology procedures under AB-ArK see over a six-fold rise in last six years
Utilisation of oncology procedures under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) has seen over a six-fold rise in the last six years. From 9,328 pre-authorisations approved under the flagship health scheme in 2018-2019, the number has shot up to 60,301 in 2024-2025, according to data from the Health Department. Karnataka has a high cancer burden with around one lakh new cases reported every year. The State has an estimated cancer prevalence of around 2.35 lakh cases, according to the Population Based Cancer Registry at the State-run Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru. The cumulative risk for developing cancer in their lifetime is one in seven for men and one in six for women in Karnataka, according to doctors.. The State is providing tertiary care for oncology procedures under the health scheme and a total of 109 hospitals, including 96 private hospitals, are empanelled under Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST), the nodal agency that is implementing AB-ArK. As many as eight government medical colleges and 22 private medical colleges are also empanelled for oncology specialty under SAST. However, empanelled hospitals for oncology are present only in 21 districts and people from Bidar, Yadgiri, Vijayanagara Koppal, Chitradurga, Chickballapura, Ramanagara, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar and Chikkamagaluru have to travel to other districts for cancer treatment. Pre-authorisations A total of 2.61 lakh pre-authorisations have been approved under the scheme for an amount of ₹1,301.92 crore from 2018-2019 when the scheme was launched. In 2024-2025, a total of 60,301 pre-authorisations for an amount of ₹271.72 crore have been expended under the scheme. Among the procedures covered under the scheme, 56% are medical oncology procedures (chemotherapy), 25% are radiation oncology procedures and 19% surgical oncology cases, according to data. Apart from Kidwai, Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute, VTSM Peripheral Cancer Centre in Kalaburgi, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences in Hubballi and Vijaynagar Institute of Medical Sciences in Ballari are the top five public health facilities with highest utilisation of oncology procedures. Since 2022-2023, in the category of government hospitals, Kidwai institute has done the highest procedures under the scheme (51,418). Among private empanelled hospitals, Bharat Hospital and Institute of Oncology in Mysuru has done the highest procedures at 6,204, according to data. Female cancers high in Bengaluru In Bengaluru, of the estimated 15,603 cases registered annually, 8,723 are female cancers. Of the 6,880 male cancers reported, lung cancer continues to be the most predominant site (9.7% of the total male cancers). Lung cancer is followed by cancers of the prostate (6.9%), stomach (6.5%), and mouth (6.4%). Among females, breast cancer is the most common constituting 31.5% of the total female cancers followed by cancer of the cervix (9.1%), ovary (6.4%), mouth (4.3%), and corpus uteri (4.2%), according to data.
