It is not clear who will replace Mr Lansley, the architect of controversial reforms to the NHS in England.
In other moves, Ken Clarke is stepping down as Justice Secretary and moving to become Minister without Portfolio.
Conservative Party co-chair Baroness Warsi and Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan are also being replaced.
Transport minister Theresa Villiers is to be the new Northern Ireland Secretary but Education Secretary Michael Gove and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith will stay in their jobs.
Downing Street said the prime minister wants these "strong reformers" to continue their work.
Mr Cameron met some of those he wants to move on Monday, including Mr Clarke and Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman.
Mr Clarke is expected to remain in the cabinet in his new role where he will act as a government "wise head" offering advice to the prime minister on issues including economic strategy.
Tuesday's cabinet meeting has been cancelled to allow the prime minister to deal with the reshuffle - the first major restructuring since the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government came to power in 2010.
On Monday night, it was announced Mr Mitchell would replace Patrick McLoughlin as government chief whip, a job whose main role is to maintain party discipline and get Conservative MPs to vote in favour of coalition legislation.
Last month Baroness Warsi appealed to Mr Cameron to allow her to keep her post in any reshuffle but she hinted heavily at her departure when she wrote on her official Tory chairman Twitter account: "It's been a privilege and an honour to serve my party as co-chairman, signing off @ToryChairman."
In other moves already confirmed, ex-International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell is the new chief whip.
The prime minister is also expected to bring back Liberal Democrat David Laws as part of his shake-up.
Former cabinet minister Mr Laws resigned two years ago as chief secretary to the Treasury after admitting he claimed expenses to pay his partner's rent.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson says the changes will be widespread, both in the cabinet and among more junior ministers.
He said Mr Clarke's move was one of a series which would reshape the government's middle and junior ranks and could - though this has not been confirmed - see new faces in departments such as health, transport, work and pensions and the position of party chairman.
Ken Clarke today denied that being moved from Justice Secretary to minister without portfolio was a humiliation, telling reporters: "Being offered a job in the Cabinet at my age - don't be daft."
The prime minister's aides say the appointments would prove the government meant business.
So, Iain Duncan Smith stays put. He was expecting a move. Delicate choice for Justice now - Grayling would cheer Tories but appall Libs
PM starts day in Commons. Means more bad news to give away from cameras or to hear when some refuse to move. Women know he needs them...
Warsi, Spelman & Clarke saw PM last night to hear bad news.Ken stays as Min without portfolio, "wise head" and adviser on economy. Blog soon
RT @NumberTenCat: You may have seen Freya and me on the news. We are not welcome indoors as we've been passing reshuffle secrets to @bbc ...
Stand by for widespread reshuffle tomorrow. My blog - http://t.co/9MqodKmq
Any cabinet changes are thought unlikely to affect Chancellor George Osborne, Home Secretary Theresa May or Foreign Secretary William Hague.
But Mr Osborne was reminded of the scale of the political challenge the government faces when he was booed as he presented medals at the Olympic Stadium on Monday night.
The reshuffle comes after several Conservative MPs accused the coalition of not doing enough to promote economic growth.
There has been speculation about possible moves for Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Transport Secretary Justine Greening as well as Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.
Housing minister Grant Shapps, employment minister Chris Grayling, minister for disabled people Maria Miller, transport minister Theresa Villiers and Tory deputy chairman Michael Fallon are among the Conservatives tipped for promotion.
There has been speculation Ms Gillan could be replaced by Wales Office minister David Jones or Stephen Crabb, currently a whip.
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