India’s Traditional Medicine Systems To Be Integrated With Modern Cancer Treatment: PM Modi
21-Dec-25 16:11:30

India’s Traditional Medicine Systems To Be Integrated With Modern Cancer Care

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has underlined that India’s traditional medicine systems will increasingly be linked with modern cancer treatment, signalling a decisive move towards integrative, patient-centric oncology. Speaking in the context of the WHO’s traditional medicine initiatives, he emphasised that Ayurveda, Yoga and other Ayush disciplines can play a vital role alongside surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, especially in prevention, rehabilitation and quality-of-life support for cancer patients.

This vision is not just rhetorical. Over the past year, the Ministry of Ayush and partner institutions have begun building the infrastructure needed to make integrative oncology a reality, with Goa emerging as a key testing ground.

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India’s first Integrative Oncology Research and Care Centre

A major milestone in this journey is the inauguration of India’s first Integrative Oncology Research and Care Centre (IORCC) at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Dhargal, Goa. The centre was launched on the 10th National Ayurveda Day in the presence of senior Union and state leaders, including the Governor of Goa and the Chief Minister.ETHealthworld.com+1

Designed as a state-of-the-art facility, the IORCC brings together:

• Modern oncology

• Ayurveda and other Ayush systems

• Yoga therapy

• Diet and lifestyle medicine

• Panchakarma and physiotherapy

Its mandate is clear: offer evidence-informed cancer rehabilitation that reduces side effects of conventional treatment, strengthens immunity, and addresses the physical, emotional and social dimensions of living with cancer.biospectrumindia.com

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Joint integrative clinics: oncologists and Vaidyas at one table

Soon after the IORCC opened, AIIA Goa hosted the country’s first joint integrative oncology clinic. During the inaugural session, four complex cancer cases were presented to a multi-disciplinary panel comprising surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists from institutions such as Tata Memorial Centre and ACTREC, along with senior Ayurveda physicians and Ayush experts.The Times of India

Patients and their families were present during the deliberations. Each case was discussed from multiple clinical perspectives, and the panel arrived at a consensus treatment plan that combined:

• Appropriate standard-of-care oncology

• Individualised Ayurvedic formulations and therapies

• Yoga-based rehabilitation and stress management

• Diet, sleep and lifestyle interventions tailored to the patient’s stage and strength

The clinic is now planned as a regular monthly exercise, offering patients a structured way to access second opinions and combined expertise under one roof.

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A model the government wants to scale

The Goa initiative is already being seen as a model for integrative oncology that could be replicated in other states. Government briefings and news reports indicate that the Centre is keen to expand this collaborative approach, blending conventional cancer treatment with complementary practices like Ayurveda and Yoga to improve quality of life and long-term outcomes.The Times of India

If replicated thoughtfully, such centres can address several gaps in the current cancer care ecosystem:

• Limited focus on rehabilitation and survivorship after active treatment

• High symptom burden and side effects from chemotherapy and radiation

• Need for better psychological and spiritual support for patients and caregivers

• Rising interest among patients in safe, guided use of traditional therapies instead of unregulated alternatives

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How traditional systems complement modern cancer care

The government’s push is grounded in a pragmatic understanding of what traditional medicine can and cannot do in oncology.

1. Prevention and risk reduction
   Ayurveda’s emphasis on Dinacharya (daily routine), Ritucharya (seasonal regimen), nutrition, sleep and stress management aligns with global evidence on lifestyle-linked cancer risk factors. Structured preventive programmes can help high-risk groups adopt healthier behaviours, complementing population-level screening and vaccination.

2. Side-effect management and rehabilitation
   Integrative oncology centres like IORCC Goa are exploring how specific Ayurvedic formulations, yoga-based exercises and Panchakarma-inspired detox and massage therapies might help manage fatigue, neuropathy, digestive issues, sleep disturbance and anxiety that often persist despite standard medicine.APAC Media+1

3. Quality of life and survivorship
   Mind-body practices from Yoga and meditation can support emotional resilience, while dietary and lifestyle guidance can help survivors rebuild strength and reduce the risk of relapse. The goal is not to replace modern treatment but to extend the circle of care around patients.

4. Research and documentation
   A defining feature of the IORCC is its commitment to systematic data collection and research, in collaboration with ACTREC and other institutions. Protocols are being designed to document outcomes, adverse effects, and patient-reported quality-of-life measures so that future guidelines are informed by real-world evidence rather than anecdote.APAC Media

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Safeguards: ethics, safety and scientific rigour

Integrating two very different medical paradigms is complex. Policy makers and clinicians point to several non-negotiable safeguards:

• Cancer patients must not abandon or delay proven therapies like surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy in favour of untested alternatives.

• Any herbal or external therapy should be screened for potential interactions with chemotherapy drugs or ongoing treatment.

• Integrative care plans should be developed jointly, documented clearly and explained to patients in language they understand.

• Research must follow ethical standards, with informed consent and transparent reporting of both benefits and limitations.

By housing Ayush services inside structured cancer centres and linking them to national cancer institutes, the government hopes to move patients away from fragmented, unregulated use of traditional remedies and towards carefully supervised, documented care.

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What this means for patients and practitioners

For patients and caregivers, the message is cautiously hopeful:

• They can increasingly expect access to Ayurveda and Yoga as part of hospital-based cancer care, not just as an outside add-on.

• Consultation teams may include oncologists, Vaidyas, yoga therapists, dietitians and counsellors working together rather than in silos.

• Over time, better evidence should emerge on which integrative approaches genuinely help, for whom, and at what stage of disease.

For practitioners, both in modern oncology and Ayush disciplines, the shift demands new skills: interdisciplinary communication, openness to other paradigms, and comfort with data and outcome measurement.

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Role of digital platforms and specialised centres

Digital health platforms and specialised centres will be critical to scaling integrative oncology responsibly.

• Doctor-led Ayurvedic institutions and clinics are beginning to adopt electronic medical records, teleconsultation and outcome tracking, allowing them to participate in multi-centre research and referral networks. Centres associated with brands like Ayuquo, for instance, demonstrate how protocol-driven Ayurveda can be delivered in a modern, patient-friendly format while staying open to collaboration with oncologists where appropriate.

• At the information level, health communication portals such as Indianvaidyas (indianvaidyas.com) play an important role in translating complex policy announcements, research findings and clinical developments into language that patients, practitioners and the general public can understand. By curating doctor-reviewed news and analysis, such platforms help counter misinformation and set realistic expectations from integrative cancer care.

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A shared roadmap for the future

Prime Minister Modi’s call to link India’s traditional medicine systems with modern cancer treatment is ultimately an invitation to design a shared roadmap. In this roadmap:

• Science and tradition are not in competition but in dialogue.

• Patients are not forced to choose between “allopathic” and “Ayurvedic” camps; they receive the best of both, in a sequence and combination that is logical and safe.

• Traditional knowledge is respected, but also tested and refined through modern research tools.

• Oncologists gain partners in rehabilitation and long-term care, while Ayush physicians gain structured pathways to contribute within the mainstream health system.

Integrative oncology will not solve all of India’s cancer challenges. Issues of early detection, affordability, infrastructure and palliative care remain immense. Yet, by formally recognising the potential of Ayurveda and other traditional systems in supportive and rehabilitative cancer care, the government has opened an important new chapter.

As centres like the IORCC in Goa mature, and as more hospitals experiment with similar models, India’s experience will be closely watched globally. The hope is that this journey will generate rigorous evidence, compassionate practices and practical frameworks that help cancer patients live not only longer, but better lives.

Sources:

• Launch of the Integrative Oncology Research and Care Centre (IORCC) at AIIA Goa

  • “Ministry of Ayush inaugurates Integrative Oncology Research and Care Centre at AIIA, Goa” – ETHealthworld (Economic Times – Health) ETHealthworld.com

  • “Ayush Ministry Opens Integrative Cancer Care Centre at AIIA Goa” – APAC News Network APAC Media

  • “Integrative oncology centre to be opened today in Dhargal” – The Navhind Times (Goa) The Navhind Times

• First joint integrative oncology clinic at AIIA Goa

  • “India’s 1st joint oncology clinic held at Dhargalim” – The Times of India Times of India

  • “Goa: All India Institute of Ayurveda launches joint integrative clinic for cancer patients” – ETHealthworld / NewsDrum PTI copy ETHealthworld.com

• Context of National Ayurveda Day and integrative oncology focus

  • “Ministry of Ayush celebrates 10th National Ayurveda Day at AIIA Goa with theme ‘Ayurveda for People and Planet’” – TravelMedia.in Travel Media

  • “Integrative Oncology Centre Launched at AIIA Goa” – Usthadian Academy (current affairs brief) Usthadian