Wed May 28 14:59:55 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by its rewrite as a news article:
**Summary:**
A report from *The Hindu* in Karnataka details the increasing utilization of oncology procedures under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) health scheme. In the last six years, the number of pre-authorizations has risen over six-fold, reflecting the high cancer burden in the state. While the scheme provides crucial access to treatment through a network of empanelled hospitals (including both public and private), accessibility remains a challenge for residents of several districts who must travel for treatment. Data reveals the types of procedures covered, top performing hospitals and cancer prevalence rates and types throughout the state.
**News Article:**
**Karnataka Sees Surge in Cancer Treatment Under Health Scheme, Accessibility Remains a Concern**
**Bengaluru, May 28, 2025** – The utilization of oncology procedures under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) scheme has surged in the past six years, according to data released by the Karnataka Health Department. Pre-authorizations for cancer treatment have increased dramatically from 9,328 in 2018-2019 to 60,301 in 2024-2025, highlighting the growing need for accessible cancer care in the state.
Karnataka faces a significant cancer burden, with approximately one lakh new cases reported annually and an estimated prevalence of 2.35 lakh cases. Doctors estimate the lifetime risk of developing cancer is one in seven for men and one in six for women in the state.
The AB-ArK scheme provides tertiary care for oncology and has empanelled 109 hospitals across the state, including both government and private facilities. The scheme covers medical oncology (chemotherapy), radiation oncology, and surgical oncology.
While the increased utilization signals progress, accessibility remains a major concern. Residents of several districts, including Bidar, Yadgiri, and others, lack empanelled hospitals and must travel to other districts to receive treatment.
Since its launch in 2018-2019, the AB-ArK scheme has approved 2.61 lakh pre-authorizations amounting to ₹1,301.92 crore. In the latest fiscal year, ₹271.72 crore was expended on 60,301 pre-authorizations.
The top public health facilities for oncology procedures under the scheme are Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute, VTSM Peripheral Cancer Centre, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, and Vijaynagar Institute of Medical Sciences. Kidwai Institute has performed the most procedures among government hospitals since 2022-2023, while Bharat Hospital and Institute of Oncology in Mysuru leads among private hospitals.
In Bengaluru, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women (31.5% of female cancers), followed by cervical cancer. Among men, lung cancer remains the most prevalent (9.7% of male cancers).
The surge in utilization of the AB-ArK scheme underscores the need for continued investment in cancer care infrastructure and improved accessibility across Karnataka to ensure timely and effective treatment for all residents.
First Piper 