Expanding Cancer Care and Diagnostic Reach
Dr Singh cited the Tata Memorial Centre’s expanding network as a key outcome of nuclear medicine applications in oncology. He told the House that 11 Tata Memorial cancer hospitals have been established under recent expansion plans, nine of which are already functional. A national oncology grid now connects over 300 hospitals, enabling wider access to diagnostics, treatment planning and specialist support for cancer care across regions.
These developments, the Minister said, underscore how nuclear techniques especially in diagnostics and radiation therapy have become integral to modern healthcare delivery in India, reducing travel and treatment delays for patients in smaller towns and districts.
Water Purification: Targeted Deployments in Affected Districts
Addressing a specific query on contaminated water in Nuapada district, Odisha, Dr Singh told Parliament that 500 reverse osmosis (RO)-based water purification units were installed in Kalahandi and surrounding areas to tackle salinity and harmful chemical contaminants. He said ultrafiltration systems have also been deployed in select regions to remove microbes and pathogens.
The Minister added that community water purification installations have been rolled out in several districts across states including Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Karnataka. Dr Singh emphasised that the rollout follows a needs-based approach and that political considerations do not dictate the distribution of public-health interventions.
Opening the Nuclear Sector to Private Participation
For the first time, the government has enabled private participation in the nuclear sector through PPP models, Dr Singh said. Nearly 40 private partners have joined public welfare projects particularly in atomic-energy-driven water purification signalling a shift towards collaborative implementation of technology at scale.
The Minister framed such partnerships as necessary to accelerate deployment, tap technical and managerial capacities in the private sector, and improve last-mile delivery of health and clean-water services to citizens.
Science, Health and the Viksit Bharat Agenda
Dr Singh linked these scientific interventions to the broader government vision of Viksit Bharat, asserting that public health and equitable access to services are central to national development. “Every citizen’s health is a national priority,” he told the House, stressing that nuclear applications complement other public-health measures.
He reiterated that robust oversight, safety norms and regulatory frameworks guide all nuclear-linked deployments. The Department of Atomic Energy and partner agencies continue to coordinate monitoring, impact assessment and technical support for field installations.
Impact in the Field and Future Steps
The Minister said Odisha is a model for successful deployment, with projects in Kalahandi, Khordha, Mayurbhanj and Boudh demonstrating measurable improvements in access to safe drinking water. Dr Singh added that Government plans to continue scaling such interventions where public health indicators indicate urgent need.
