India's cancer burden may soon come under a more structured surveillance framework. The Supreme Court's observation on making cancer a notifiable disease has brought renewed focus to how systematically diagnosed cases are reported, mapped and translated into improvements in cancer care. For clinicians and health planners, the potential value lies in the data. A comprehensive notification system could offer a clearer picture of cancer incidence, disease patterns, geographic distribution and stage at diagnosis.

Such information could help identify where screening programs, diagnostic facilities, oncology centers and trained specialists are most needed. Dr. Jeyhan Dhabhar, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Immunotherapy Expert at Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, pointed to the marked differences in cancer services between metropolitan centers and smaller towns. While major cities may…