New Delhi: Emphasising the need to place patients at the centre of cancer care, UHAPO Health Services held its 4th Annual Cancer Conclave to discuss the real-world challenges faced by those living with cancer in India.
The virtual conclave was held on the theme “Patient Advocacy First: Putting the Patient’s Voice at the Heart of Cancer Care” and focused on gaps in awareness, affordability, informed decision-making and long-term patient support across the cancer care continuum.
Experts noted that while advances in oncology have improved treatment outcomes, patients continue to struggle with delayed diagnosis, limited counselling time, financial stress and inadequate emotional, nutritional and rehabilitative support.
Opening the conclave, UHAPO founder Vivek Sharma said recent Union Budget announcements for healthcare signal intent but must translate into last-mile impact. He highlighted the need for coordinated action involving patients, caregivers, clinicians, policymakers, industry and civil society, adding that the conclave would culminate in an action-oriented stakeholder report with a roadmap for the next 12–24 months.
Doctors participating in the discussions said low cancer awareness and time constraints during consultations often prevent comprehensive patient counselling, leaving many patients ill-equipped to navigate treatment choices, side effects and life after cancer.
Medical oncologist Dr Raajit Chanana said cancer financing and patient support require collaboration across government schemes, insurance providers, CSR initiatives and crowdfunding platforms. He also stressed the importance of investing in cancer prevention alongside treatment access.
Speakers highlighted that although pharmaceutical patient assistance programmes exist, they are often complex and poorly understood, limiting their reach. The financial burden of cancer, they noted, extends beyond treatment to include travel, accommodation, loss of income and caregiving costs, pushing many families into distress. Experts called for strengthening government health schemes, including coverage for molecular diagnostics, to enable more precise and affordable care.
A key session featured cancer survivors and caregivers who spoke about challenges related to referrals, paperwork, uncertainty and financial anxiety, underscoring the gap between observing cancer care and experiencing it firsthand.
Discussions on clinical trials stressed the need for transparent and simple communication. Oncologists said informed consent often becomes procedural rather than meaningful due to lengthy and complex documents. They advocated explaining trials in clear, local language and giving families adequate time to understand risks, benefits and support mechanisms.
The conclave also raised policy concerns over cancer not being a notifiable disease in India, with experts noting that improved data collection could strengthen planning, funding and outcomes.
The event concluded with a call to build a national patient advocacy network to ensure patient voices are represented not only in hospitals but also in policy and decision-making forums.
