Oncology now contributes 17–25% of inpatient revenue for India’s leading private hospital chains, as rising cancer cases shift demand from overburdened public facilities to high-cost private care. With the ICMR projecting 15.7 lakh new cancer cases in 2025—growing to 22.2 lakh by 2040—Delhi-NCR has become the country’s largest oncology hub, driving aggressive expansion in the sector.

Private Hospitals Capitalize on Oncology Demand

Max Healthcare reported oncology as 25.1% of inpatient revenue in Q3 FY26, generating an estimated ₹1,560 crore in the first nine months of the fiscal year. Apollo Hospitals’ FY25 annual report shows oncology at 17% of inpatient specialty revenue, translating to roughly ₹1,900 crore. Medanta’s FY25 disclosures place oncology-related specialties at 14% of revenue, while Fortis Healthcare’s CEO noted oncology has overtaken cardiology, contributing 16.4% of hospital revenue—and 19–20% when including cancer-related procedures across other specialties.

Smaller players are also entering the space. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital launched a multidisciplinary cancer centre, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital opened a Centre for Cancer and Radiation Oncology in Greater Noida, and Everhope Oncology raised $10 million for new centres in Delhi and Mumbai. Fortis plans a comprehensive cancer facility in Manesar.

Cost Barriers Push Patients to Private Sector

Public institutions like AIIMS Delhi, Lady Hardinge Medical College, and Maulana Azad Medical College face severe shortages of surgeons, oncologists, and radiotherapy machines, leading to critical delays in treatment. An AIIMS oncologist, speaking anonymously, cited “overwhelmed and under-resourced” systems forcing patients into private care, where costs escalate rapidly.

  • Chemotherapy: ₹30,000–₹2 lakh per cycle
  • Radiation therapy: ₹2–5 lakh
  • Cancer surgery: ₹3–10 lakh
  • Targeted therapies/immunotherapy: ₹1–4 lakh per cycle
  • Bone marrow transplants: ₹15–40 lakh

Market Outlook: Oncology as a Growth Engine

Dr. S.V.S. Deo, Oncology Lead at Max Healthcare, estimates 30–40% of future hospital growth will come from cancer care, despite government efforts to expand capacity through state cancer centres and new AIIMS institutions. Dr. Pragya Shukla of Delhi State Cancer Institute underscores the gap between India’s treatment expertise and the accessibility of affordable care, advocating for cancer to be declared a notifiable disease to improve resource allocation.