CHENNAI: With a focus on cancer prevention and treatment, Tamil Nadu has allotted the health and family welfare department Rs 21,906 crore – 8.4% more than what it allotted in the budget estimates for 2024.
“Tamil Nadu is among the states with the highest incidence of cancer in the country,” Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said on Friday.
Data from the state cancer registry reveal cases have risen by 6% a year in Tamil Nadu since 2012. In 2024, the estimated number of new cancer cases reached 96,486, an increase from 92,876 in 2023 and 89,265 in 2022. “To ensure quality cancer treatment and appropriate care services for all, the govt of Tamil Nadu remains committed to strengthening cancer care,” he said.
The state has set aside Rs 120 crore in the next two years to upgrade the Govt Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Institute in Karapettai, the nodal cancer centre, as an autonomous facility with 800 beds, offering world-class cancer diagnosis, treatment, palliative care, and related services.
To promote early detection in the next three years, the state has set aside Rs 110 crore for enhanced medical equipment and manpower in secondary and medical college hospitals.
Notably, the incidence of cancer is higher among women than men, with estimates showing 51,753 cases in women and 44,733 in men for 2024. Top cancers among women include breast (26.3%), cervix (15.3%), ovary (5.5%), corpus uteri (3.9%), and mouth (3.0%). The state has set aside Rs 36 crore in 2025-26 to prevent and eradicate cervical cancer through HPV vaccines for girls aged 14 years.
Most human papillomavirus, a common virus that spreads through sexual activity, clears up on its own, but some can persist and lead to cancer.
Doctors say the HPV vaccine stimulates the body’s immune system to produce antibodies that protect against these high-risk HPV types. “The best time to receive the vaccine is before any potential exposure to the virus, a reason why it’s often recommended for adolescents,” said Radiation Oncologist Dr S Saravanan, who heads the Arignar Anna Cancer Hospital.
By preventing HPV infections, the vaccine significantly reduces the risk of developing HPV-related cancers, which include cervical, anal, and some head and neck cancers. The cancer programme has set aside another Rs 40 crore to reach all women near their homes. “Screening of major cancer diseases, heart diseases, and counselling on lifestyle changes will be provided through mobile medical teams in collaboration with NGOs,” the finance minister said.
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