Integrating Health Social Work into Oncology: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Psychosocial Care for Cancer Patients in India
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: young.Some institutions, such as Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai, have placed social workers within cancer care teams, leading to better coordination and more holistic support.6 Although the Indian Council of Medical Research's (ICMR's) National Guidelines for Palliative Care recognize the value of psycho-oncology, implementation remains uneven.7 Most cancer centers lack dedicated social workers.Where they exist, services are often underfunded or provided by workers with inconsistent training.India has fewer than 500 trained oncology social workers for more than 1.4 million new cancer patients annually 8 -far below what is needed.This review aims to: (1) describe current roles of health social workers in Indian oncology; (2) synthesize evidence on effectiveness for distress, caregiver support, and treatment adherence; IntroductIonCancer is a major public health problem in India.According to GLOBOCAN 2022 data, there are an estimated 1.4 million new cases and more than 900,000 deaths each year. 1 But the harm goes beyond the physical.Patients and families also suffer emotionally, socially, and financially.Many live with fear of death, pain, stigma, isolation, loss of income, and the struggle to navigate a fragmented healthcare system.These psychosocial issues are often ignored.What makes India's cancer situation especially difficult is the combination of late diagnosis, high out-of-pocket expenses, and deep cultural beliefs about illness and fate.2,3 Consider a woman from rural Maharashtra diagnosed with breast cancer.She may travel over 200 kilometers for treatment, leave her children, spend her family's savings, and hear relatives say she is paying for "bad karma."This happens daily to millions.Health social workers are trained to handle such situations, yet they are almost completely absent from most Indian cancer hospitals.Health social workers understand patients' biological, psychological, and social needs.They offer emotional support, connect people to resources, ensure continuity of care, and advocate for patients' rights-especially for the poor and marginalized.4 When included in cancer care, both patient outcomes and health system functioning improve.Oncology social work developed as a specialty in the mid-20th century after World War II, when it became clear that chronically ill patients needed psychosocial support.5 In India, this field is still
Author: Gautam Sureshbhai Makwana
Institution: Indira Gandhi National Open University
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7166800797