India’s cancer care financial toxicity

Challenges in Cancer Treatment

• Genetic-informed precision medicine and targeted therapy are unaffordable for many low and middle-income individuals.

• Cancer treatment costs include direct medical expenses and nonmedical expenses like travel, lodging, and food.

• Private and public insurance schemes only cover inpatient costs, leaving outpatient expenses like diagnostic workups, post-discharge care, and follow-up tests to be paid out-of-pocket.

• India’s public health expenditure is less than 2% of GDP, leading to shortages of healthcare personnel, diagnostic and treatment facilities, and essential medications.

Addressing Financial Toxicity

• Public healthcare is a State subject in India, with some states offering discounted fares and free bus travel for cancer patients.

• NGOs and networks have also contributed to cost reduction, such as the National Cancer Grid reducing the cost of 40 high-value cancer drugs by 82%.

• Nonprofits play a crucial role in reducing the financial toxicity of cancer by working at the grassroots level and conducting pilot projects.

• In 2022–23, the healthcare sector received over ₹6,800 crore in CSR funding, but granular data on specific areas like cancer remains limited.

• With rising pollution, rapid urbanisation, and unhealthy lifestyle changes, the health and financial toll of cancer is set to rise significantly.