Telangana’s Cancer Burden: New Registry Maps Over 1 Lakh Patients in Five Years
At the Mehdi Nawaz Jung Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre (MNJ Cancer Hospital) in Hyderabad, the day begins early. By mid-morning, the outpatient block is crowded with patients and their families, many carrying thick bundles of medical records and scan reports. Some have travelled overnight from distant districts, while others have been referred from hospitals lacking specialised oncology services.
Despite the congestion, the atmosphere is patient. For many, this is a familiar routine. Mohammed Usman, a 26-year-old resident of Moula Ali, accompanies his mother who was diagnosed with a brain tumour two years ago. “We first went to Osmania General Hospital, but she was referred here. The doctors are good, and we get medicines from the hospital pharmacy,” he says.
Shekhar, 44, from Adilabad, waits with his son for a radiotherapy session. Diagnosed with mouth cancer linked to gutka use, he notes that treatment that would cost lakhs in private hospitals is available free at MNJ. “It is crowded, but we have no other option,” he adds.
MNJ is the largest government cancer hospital in Telangana, acting as the final referral point for patients across the state and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Its corridors tell the story of a growing cancer burden and a healthcare system concentrated in Hyderabad. To better understand this, the state government has launched its first comprehensive cancer registry.
According to the Telangana Cancer Atlas, prepared using data from the Rajiv Aarogyasri Health Care Trust between April 2020 and September 2025, over 1,00,294 unique cancer patients received treatment under the state's health insurance scheme over five and a half years. This averages about 18,235 patients annually. Cancer was the second most treated condition after kidney ailments, accounting for nearly 4,96,552 treatment episodes.
MNJ treated 34,256 patients during the study period, making it the single largest cancer facility. It was followed by Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital (21,508 patients) and Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (8,641). However, private hospitals collectively treated a slightly larger share: 53,523 patients (53.4%) compared to 43,480 (43.4%) in government hospitals. The remaining 3,291 patients received treatment in both sectors.
The cancer burden is spread across all 33 districts, but unevenly. Hyderabad accounted for the highest number (12,517), followed by Rangareddy (6,372) and Medchal (5,483). When adjusted for population, Hanumakonda reported a higher incidence rate, though exact figures were not detailed in the atlas.
The registry aims to provide crucial data for planning cancer control measures, identifying high-risk areas, and allocating resources more equitably. For now, facilities like MNJ remain overburdened, a stark reminder of the challenges ahead.
