Cancer care accessibility varies widely across Indian states, study finds
Patients in Bihar travel the longest distances for treatment compared to those in southern states, according to research in the Indian Journal of Medical Research.
A study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR) has revealed significant disparities in how far patients must travel to access cancer care in India. The research, which included 153,823 patients with oral, cervical, and female breast cancers, found that accessibility is lowest in eastern states.
According to the Deccan Herald, Bihar recorded the lowest accessibility, with patients covering an average of 2,514 kilometres for treatment. In the eastern region, over 50 per cent of patients travelled more than 500 km, while nearly 24 per cent of patients in central India travelled similar distances.
In contrast, most southern states reported much shorter travel distances. Patients in Kerala, Karnataka, and Telangana travelled an average of 67 km, 68 km, and 95 km respectively, while Tamil Nadu recorded 111 km. Andhra Pradesh was the exception in the south, with patients travelling 468 km.
Other states showed high travel requirements, such as Jharkhand at 1,609 km and Odisha at 1,410 km. Among union territories, Chandigarh and Puducherry had minimal travel distances of 6 km and 1 km, whereas patients from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands travelled 3,890 km.
Experts noted that both public and private cancer facilities are primarily located in urban areas. The study suggested that long-distance travel is influenced by medical infrastructure, disease characteristics, and patient preference, particularly for those requiring surgery or advanced care at specialised tertiary facilities.
The uneven distribution of radiotherapy infrastructure and healthcare capacity contributes to these disparities. Long-distance travel can delay treatment and increase the financial burden on families, sometimes leading patients to abandon their medical care entirely.