Cancer deaths in Delhi increased by 13% in 4 years: Health Ministry
According to data shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the Rajya Sabha, cancer deaths in the national capital have increased by nearly 13 percent in the last four years.
Responding to a question during the ongoing parliamentary session, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav presented state and union territory-wise data on cancer cases and mortality rates.
According to the data, cancer deaths in Delhi are projected to increase from 14,494 in 2021 to 16,312 in 2025. Mortality rates will increase steadily during this period, reaching 14,917 in 2022, 15,386 in 2023, and 15,842 in 2024, before further increasing in 2025. The capital has also seen a steady increase in cancer cases, with the number of cases increasing from 25,969 in 2021 to 29,238 in 2025. Data shows that there will be 26,735 cases in 2022, 27,561 in 2023, and 28,387 in 2024.
Responding to a question on the possible causes of the disease, the minister cited findings shared by the Indian Council of Medical Research. According to a review published in 2025, contamination of water sources with pollutants such as industrial waste, pesticides, heavy metals, and pharmaceutical residues is emerging as a major public health concern.
The review analyzed existing scientific evidence and highlighted a link between contaminated water and certain types of cancer, including rectal and colorectal cancer.
The central government also informed Parliament about the steps being taken to strengthen cancer care infrastructure across the country. Under the “Strengthening Tertiary Care Cancer Facilities” scheme, 19 State Cancer Institutes and 20 Tertiary Care Cancer Centers have been approved across the country to improve access to specialized treatment.
The government also stated that treatment of major non-communicable diseases, including cancer, is covered under the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, which provides health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary hospitalization in empanelled government and private hospitals.
The Minister said that initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana and AMRIT Pharmacy are helping improve access to affordable cancer medicines, implants, and other essential components of treatment, thereby reducing out-of-pocket expenses for patients.
