Wed Feb 04 11:10:00 UTC 2026: ### India’s Cancer Crisis: Ailing System Leaves Patients Stranded Outside AIIMS

The Story:
A critical report exposes the plight of cancer patients and their families who are forced to sleep on the pavements outside the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, due to long waiting times for appointments and limited access to timely treatment. The situation highlights a systemic failure in India’s healthcare system, particularly concerning cancer care, where rising mortality rates surpass the increase in new cases. Patients travel from states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana, seeking urgent medical attention, only to face further hardship and unsanitary conditions.

The Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to provide temporary shelter in subways near major hospitals. However, the report underscores the crucial role of NGOs like CanSupport in providing essential support, palliative care, and addressing the gaps in the healthcare system that hospitals alone cannot fill.

Key Points:

  • Patients are forced to sleep outside AIIMS due to long waiting times for appointments.
  • The Delhi HC has directed DUSIB to provide temporary shelter in subways.
  • Cancer mortality rates in India are rising faster than new cases: cases increased by over 10% from 13.9 lakh in 2015 to 15.3 lakh in 2024, while deaths increased by nearly 29% from 6.8 lakh to 8.7 lakh during the same period.
  • The mortality-to-incidence ratio rose from 49% in 2015 to 57% in 2024.
  • NGOs like CanSupport provide essential support, palliative care, and address gaps in cancer care.
  • The article was written by Aishwarya Khosla, key editorial figure at The Indian Express

Key Takeaways:

  • The increasing cancer mortality rate relative to incidence points to late diagnoses, uneven access to treatment, and financial constraints.
  • NGOs play a crucial role in supplementing the healthcare system by providing palliative care, home-based support, and psychosocial counselling.
  • The conditions outside hospitals exacerbate the suffering of patients and caregivers, highlighting the urgent need for improved infrastructure and support services.
  • Isolation and stigma associated with cancer further burden patients and their families.
  • The article underlines the critical need for accessible and timely cancer screening, early detection, and comprehensive care to reverse the current trends.

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