Tamil Nadu’s health department is strengthening its cancer-care infrastructure with a bold new move: the establishment of Virtual Tumour Boards (VTBs) in a hub-and-spoke model across tertiary cancer centres and district hospitals.  This digital initiative aims to bring expert multidisciplinary tumour decision-making to more remote hospitals, ensuring that patients benefit from specialist input even if they are far from a cancer centre.

As part of its broader Cancer Management Mission, the state has sanctioned ₹ 16.08 crore to create 59 new oncology posts across 16 medical colleges, enhancing its capacity for cancer diagnosis and treatment.  The cancer-care network will be structured around a four-tier system: the State Apex Cancer Centre, Regional Cancer Centres, tertiary oncology hospitals, and district cancer care facilities.

VTBs are expected to work in tandem with these upgraded services. By linking district hospitals (the “spokes”) with tertiary cancer centres (the “hubs”), the system allows oncologists from the hub to review complex cases presented from district hospitals. This ensures that even patients in less resourced areas receive care plans informed by high-level expertise  standardizing treatment and potentially reducing inequities in clinical cancer outcomes.

The initiative also aligns with Tamil Nadu’s plans to decentralize cancer screening. Earlier in 2025, the government announced an organized cancer-screening program covering 12 districts, targeting breast, cervical, and oral cancers.  This paired approach  screening plus virtual expert support  could help in catching cancers early and ensuring timely, standardized treatment across the state.