Cancer rehabilitation in India: Current status, scope, and future perspectives

Table 1 Future perspectives of cancer rehabilitation in India

Focus area	Key actions	How to implement
Policy integration	Include cancer rehab in national health policies and oncology guidelines	Via various national program
Capacity building	Increase training programs and human resources for onco-rehabilitation	Expand MD PMR seats, start fellowships, train rehab staff
Technology and innovation	Utilize digital health, artificial intelligence, culturally adapted models	Develop mobile apps, use tele-rehab, integrate Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy practices
Insurance and financial support	Improve financial access to rehabilitation	Include rehab under govt schemes, public-private models
Integrated care models	Embed rehab across all phases of cancer care	Hospital rehab pathways, PMR-oncology collaboration
Public awareness and advocacy	Increase awareness among patients, providers, policymakers	Campaigns, survivor groups, educational materials

PMR: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.