Odisha Committed to Strengthening Cancer Care Ecosystem: Health Minister
Bhubaneswar, Aug 25: Odisha is committed to building a resilient, accessible and equitable cancer care ecosystem through increased financial investment, wider screening and improved treatment facilities, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling said on Monday.
Addressing the ‘OncoPharma 2026’ roundtable on “Building a Resilient Cancer Care Ecosystem: Equitable Access through Sustainable Financing”, organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Mahaling said the state government was taking several measures to strengthen cancer prevention, early detection and treatment.
The Minister said the government has allocated Rs 311 crore under the Mukhyamantri Cancer Care Yojana to expand cancer treatment facilities across Odisha. Day-care chemotherapy centres have been established in all 32 districts and have so far delivered more than 35,000 treatment cycles, he said.
He said 91 specialised cancer treatment packages have also been integrated under state health schemes to reduce the financial burden on vulnerable families. Odisha is also participating in the national HPV vaccination drive for young girls, he added.
Highlighting the government’s ‘Sustha Nari, Sasakta Parivar’ initiative, Mahaling said more than 1.5 crore women have been screened for breast, cervical and oral cancers.
He stressed the need for greater participation from the private sector, industries and technology startups to expand advanced diagnostic and cancer screening services to rural and remote areas.
Mahaling urged major industries operating in Odisha to use their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds to adopt districts and deploy mobile cancer screening vans. He said public-private partnerships, including collaboration with institutions such as the Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Centre, could help develop innovative screening models, promote early detection and reduce the cost of late-stage treatment.
FICCI Odisha State Council Chairman Jagannath P Nayak said advances in medicine and technology were creating new possibilities for cancer patients, but ensuring that these innovations reached people in rural areas remained a major priority.
He said cancer places significant financial, emotional and social pressure on families, making equitable access, sustainable financing and early detection essential to reducing the burden.
Director of Medical Education and Training Dr Durga Madhab Satpathy stressed the need to expand systematic screening and diagnostic services in remote communities, address social stigma and ensure timely treatment irrespective of geographical location.
Odisha Drug Controller Mamina Patnaik highlighted the importance of prevention alongside treatment and palliative care. She pointed to the growing risks associated with tobacco consumption and novel nicotine products, including Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS).
The roundtable brought together government officials, healthcare professionals, oncologists, hospitals, patient advocacy groups, public health experts and industry leaders to discuss ways to strengthen cancer care in Odisha.
Discussions covered the state’s cancer-care framework, disease burden, gaps in access and opportunities for advanced therapies. Participants also examined financial and policy challenges across the cancer-care value chain, including procurement, reimbursement, affordability, diagnosis, treatment and continuity of care.
The roundtable concluded with a shared emphasis on sustained investment in screening, early diagnosis, affordable treatment and access to appropriate therapies to reduce preventable cancer deaths and improve outcomes for patients and their families.
