“As we approach the Union Budget 2026–27, healthcare, especially cancer care, must be viewed as a long-term national investment rather than a cost. India is witnessing a steady rise in cancer incidence and addressing this requires a strong focus on early detection, affordability and decentralised access to quality care. Also, the Government’s recent steps to rationalise GST on life saving drugs, medical equipment and devices have been encouraging, and we hope this momentum continues. Further reduction in duties on advanced technologies such as robotic surgery systems, AI-driven diagnostics and precision oncology tools will help bring world-class treatment within reach of patients beyond metro cities. However, equally important is strengthening the ecosystem with timely reimbursements under Government health schemes, investment in trained manpower and support for hub-and-spoke cancer care models that link district centres with specialised institutions. Cancer care is multidisciplinary by nature and cannot be scaled through infrastructure alone. A forward-looking Budget that supports innovation; be it robotic-assisted surgery, AI-enabled imaging, cell and gene therapies or indigenous diagnostics, while ensuring affordability for patients, will go a long way in transforming India’s cancer care landscape and improving outcomes for millions.