New Delhi, July 23: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday launched the National Digital Cancer Registry, a technology driven platform designed to improve cancer surveillance, facilitate early diagnosis and support evidence-based policymaking across the country.
The initiative aims to create a unified database by integrating cancer cases reported by government hospitals, private healthcare institutions, regional cancer centres and medical colleges. The platform is expected to provide real-time information on disease patterns, treatment outcomes and regional trends, enabling authorities to better allocate healthcare resources.
According to officials, the registry will support early detection programmes by identifying high-risk populations and improving follow-up care. It will also help researchers analyse the prevalence of different types of cancer and evaluate the effectiveness of national screening campaigns.
The Health Ministry said the digital platform has been developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR) and state health departments. Strict data privacy measures have been incorporated to ensure patient confidentiality while allowing authorised researchers access to anonymised datasets.
Health experts welcomed the move, noting that India records millions of new cancer cases annually, making accurate data collection essential for planning treatment facilities and preventive healthcare strategies.
The ministry also announced that awareness campaigns focusing on lifestyle-related cancers, tobacco cessation and routine screenings will be expanded alongside the registry rollout.
Officials believe the initiative will strengthen India’s capacity to monitor cancer trends, improve patient outcomes and support future research in oncology.