“The cure is there, but so is the cost. Unless we bridge this gap, medical advances will remain invisible to the patient who cannot afford them,” said Dr KC Jyothish, consultant radiation oncologist, VS Hospitals. Chennai.

Despite government measures, such as the elimination of customs duties on certain high-cost medicines in 2026 Union Budgetadvanced targeted therapies like ribociclib still cost several thousand rupees a year. The budget exempted 17 cancer drugs, including ribociclib and abemaciclib, from basic customs duties, aiming to reduce costs for patients who rely on imported therapies.

Public health initiatives such as HPV vaccination campaigns, tobacco control, and screening programs remain crucial for prevention and early detection.

Dr Jyothish said Kerala’s Karunya Sparsham non-profit drug outlets, launched in 2024 and expanded to 72 counters across the state by 2025, offer oncology medicines at discounts of over 90 per cent, demonstrating how state-led models can improve affordability.

Insurance schemes like Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) have expanded coverage for cancer patients, offering cashless treatments at specialized hospitals. However, penetration remains uneven and many families still face catastrophic out-of-pocket expenses.

Oncology experts argue that unless policies are strengthened to reduce drug costs, expand insurance coverage and boost domestic production, the promise of a cure will remain an unaffordable privilege rather than a universal right.