Annual cancer mortality in India is 5 lakh The Cabinet today approved a multi crore scheme to provide for improved cancer care in India by setting up 20 new state cancer institutes and 50 new tertiary cancer care centres across the country. The objective of the Rs 4697 crore scheme is to strengthen tertiary care cancer facilities under the ongoing National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVDs and Stroke (NPCDCS). The shared cost between Centre and state will be Rs 3,535 crore and Rs 1,162 crore respectively. The proposal will enhance facilities for cancer care, address spatial imbalances, reduce waiting period for diagnosis and treatment, provide access to free and affordable facilities for the poor and increase availability of human resources trained for cancer. Annual cancer mortality in India is 5 lakh while 11 lakh new cases are detected every year. At any given time, India has 25 lakh cancer cases. The scheme will assist states and UTs to set up State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and strengthen Tertiary Care Cancer Centres. New equipment will be made available and teaching and research facilities for cancer will be strengthened. The implementation of the proposal will help in increasing radio therapy and medical oncology and other cancer related facilities in underserved areas. Bed capacities for in-patient treatment will also increase. For the new state cancer institutes and tertiary centres assistance up to Rs 120 crore and Rs 45 crore respectively would be provided including central share of 75 per cent and state share of 25 per cent. This share for North-east and hill states will be 90:10. In addition to diagnosis and treatment, assisted institutions will impart training to doctors, nurses and technicians and mentor the activities pertaining to prevention, early detection, treatment and rehabilitation being undertaken in various districts under the National Rural Health Mission. Cancer cases detected during screening at the district levels will be treated at SCIs and TCCCs.