New Delhi: The Indian Cancer Society (ICS) has called for cancer-care services to be expanded to tier 2, tier 3 and tier 4 cities and rural areas, with district hospitals playing a stronger role in screening, early diagnosis, initial care and referral to specialised centres.
The call came at the ICS Delhi’s annual seminar on ‘Bridging Innovation and Affordability in Cancer Care‘, which brought together public health experts, oncologists, hospital representatives, insurers and pharmaceutical industry professionals to discuss ways to make cancer care more accessible and affordable.
Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor Sardar Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who was the chief guest, emphasised the importance of strengthening the links among different levels of the healthcare system so that patients can access appropriate care at an early stage.
“The prime minister and the government believe that healthcare should be accessible, available and affordable to all. One of the most effective ways of making cancer care more affordable is to detect the disease early. Screening and early detection can make a fundamental difference,” Sandhu said.
He stressed the need for a stronger referral mechanism to ensure patients enter the healthcare system at an early stage.
“A better referral system can ensure that patients enter the healthcare system early. The connection between primary healthcare, diagnostic services and specialised hospitals can make a significant difference,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, cancer treatment services are currently available in only about 5 per cent of district hospitals.
Around 70 per cent of cancer patients are estimated to live in rural areas, highlighting the importance of strengthening access closer to where patients live.
Jyotsna Govil, ICS chairperson, said the organisation had spent the past 75 years working for cancer patients, with a continuing focus on making cancer care more affordable.
“We have been working for cancer patients for the last 75 years, and our main concern has always been to make cancer care more and more affordable. Access to care should not become another burden for a patient who is already dealing with cancer,” Govil said.
The experts at the seminar discussed how a more connected system could work.
Professor Ravi Mehrotra, former director of the ICMR-National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, said the focus should instead be on making essential services available closer to patients.
“What we need is to ensure that basic diagnostics and initial cancer care are available closer to the patient. Specialised centres can provide advanced care and expertise, with district-level facilities connected to them through a hub-and-spoke model,” Mehrotra said.
