Medical professionals from AIIMS Bhopal and Jodhpur have created a strategy to improve cancer treatment access in Tier II and III cities across India

Healthcare experts from AIIMS facilities in Bhopal and Jodhpur have developed a new approach to cancer care delivery that could transform treatment options for patients in smaller urban centres. Their research, recently published in an open-access journal, addresses the current imbalance where quality cancer care remains concentrated in major metropolitan areas.

The team identified that while cancer treatment is expanding beyond Tier-I cities, these services often remain unstructured in smaller locations, facing challenges like limited infrastructure, increasing costs, and diverse patient needs.

Their solution called the snowflake model, creates a hierarchical system with an apex centre that handles policy decisions, Tier II cities serving as hubs for specialised care, district headquarters functioning as nodal centres, and primary cancer centres established in high-risk areas.

The model focuses on gradually upgrading infrastructure, spreading services across multiple locations, and connecting all facilities through digital platforms. This approach aligns with existing national healthcare initiatives like Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres and the National Cancer Grid.

What sets this proposal apart is its customised hierarchical structure and planned infrastructure improvements designed specifically for smaller urban settings. By bringing specialised cancer care closer to where patients live, the model aims to reduce travel burdens, lower treatment delays, and ultimately improve survival rates for cancer patients outside major cities.