TN doctors welcome daycare cancer centre plan, urge dedicated resources

CHENNAI: A section of doctors in Tamil Nadu have welcomed the Union government’s announcement in the Budget to establish daycare cancer centres in all district hospitals over the next three years, with 200 set to be established in 2025-26.

However, they urged both the central and state governments to ensure dedicated infrastructure and staff for these facilities without relying on existing resources.

Currently, many cancer patients have to travel to medical colleges in their district or to Chennai for treatment. “At present, the government provides travel concessions for patients and an attendant coming to Chennai for treatment. Setting up daycare centres in district headquarter hospitals is a welcome move as it will help cancer patients, who are often immunocompromised and physically weak, avoid long-distance travel,” said C Sundaresan, state president, Government All Doctors’ Association.