New Delhi: In a bold declaration on International Childhood Cancer Day, the government on Saturday set an ambitious target — achieving a 60 per cent survival rate for childhood cancer by 2030 — signalling a renewed push to confront one of India’s most under-recognised health battles.

Dr. Sameer Bakshi, IRCH, AIIMS and Dr. L. Swasticharan, Addl. DDG & Director, EMR – Facilitation of Cancer Survivors. Credit: Health on Air

Calling childhood cancer a national priority, L. Swasticharan, Deputy Director General of Health Services, said the Centre is working “earnestly” to ensure that no child is left behind.

“We should not leave anybody behind. They should all survive and contribute to the Viksit Bharat 2047 that we are dreaming of,” he said, underlining that survival is not just a medical goal but a developmental imperative.

Dr. Sameer Bakshi, IRCH, AIIMS and Dr. L. Swasticharan, Addl. DDG & Director, EMR – Facilitation of Cancer Survivors. Credit: Health on Air

While India does not yet have a separate National Policy dedicated exclusively to childhood cancer, Swasticharan asserted that the existing health framework provides enough scope to support access, treatment and financial protection under Universal Health Coverage. He assured full backing from the Centre, including innovative funding mechanisms to reduce the financial burden on families.

Dr. L. Swasticharan, Addl. DDG & Director, EMR – Facilitation of Cancer Survivors. Credit: Health on Air, Credit: Health on Air

The push gains urgency as data presented at the event showed significant progress but also stark gaps. Access to care has doubled — from 27 per cent in 2019–20 to over 54 per cent in 2025. Nine states have signed MoUs to prioritise childhood cancer within their public health agenda. Yet nearly half of affected children still struggle to reach timely diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. L swasticharan Addl DDG & Director EMR – Facilitation of Cancer Survivors. Credit: Health on Air

The event was organised by CanKids KidsCan, which has been advocating for policy integration and systemic reform. Building on recent gains, stakeholders outlined a three-pronged roadmap: 100 per cent access to care, 100 per cent financial protection, and 60 per cent survival by 2030 — in alignment with the World Health Organization Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.

Dr. Sameer Bakshi, IRCH, AIIMS – Facilitation of Cancer Survivors. Credit: Health on Air

Professor Sameer Bakshi of All India Institute of Medical Sciences said the immediate priority should be strengthening systems that save lives. “Capturing more and more number of children with childhood cancer is the easiest fruit to be captured when we look at raising the national survival rate from 50 per cent to 60 per cent by 2030,” he said.

Dr. L swasticharan Addl DDG & Director EMR. Credit: Health on Air. Credit: Health on Air

Bakshi acknowledged improvements in government schemes, including the inclusion of cancer care under Ayushman Bharat, but warned that fragmented services continue to blunt outcomes. “Now, there is a crying need to address the fragmentation of the system through better coordination between stakeholders working in the field of childhood cancer,” he said.

Dr. Sameer Bakshi, IRCH, AIIMS – Facilitation of Cancer Survivors. Credit: Health on Air

Poonam Bagai, Member of the ICMR Central Ethics Committee on Human Research and WHO South-East Asia Region representative for Childhood Cancer International, stressed that dialogue and policy integration are crucial. She said the newly formed Technical Expert Group on childhood cancer could help bridge existing gaps.

Dr. Sameer Bakshi, IRCH, AIIMS and Dr. L. Swasticharan, Addl. DDG & Director, EMR – Facilitation of Cancer Survivors. Credit: Health on Air

“We want society to believe that cancer can be treated. Even if we are a low-income country, we have made a lot of achievement,” Bagai said.

The event also honoured resilience and excellence, presenting the Childhood Cancer Survivors Excellence Awards to Dr Tanveer Ahmed and Asian Youth medallist sports climber Shivani Charak — symbols of survival beyond statistics.

For policymakers and public health experts alike, the message was clear: the next four years will determine whether India merely improves numbers — or truly transforms the fate of thousands of children diagnosed with cancer each year

(Photos Credit: Health on Air)