PUNE: With improving outcomes, survival rates and availability of advanced technologies and onco-care experts, cancer care in India is headed in the right direction. However, the pace needs to pick up with innovative strategies to remove the disparities which exist in the availability of treatment of cancer care across the country, said experts at a seminar on ‘Shaping the future of cancer care in India’ organised by Sahyadri Hospitals recently.
The programme was organised to mark the launch of advanced Onco-Radiation Centre at Sahyadri Super Specialty Hospital, Hadapsar.
Padma Bhushan Dr SH Advani, Director Medical Oncology Jaslok Hospital, Dr AK D’Cruz, former director Tata Memorial Hospital, Dr CS Pramesh, Director Tata Memorial Hospital, Dr Sudeep Gupta, Director Tata Memorial Hospital, Kharghar, Senior Neurologist Dr RS Wadia, Dr Jayashree Apte, Executive Director Sahaydri Hospitals, Dr Shona Nag, Director Oncology Sahyadri Hospitals and Dr Charudutta Apte, Chairman Sahyadri Hospitals were present on the occasion.
Dr SH Advani said that with landmark advances in medical oncology, the survival rates are increasing.
“People in the cities are coming at early stages which never used to happen before. With targeted therapies, immunotherapies and newer treatments, we have moved from group to personalized treatment. But what remains as a challenge is education, finances and disparity between the cities and rural areas in the availability of healthcare,” said Dr Advani.
Citing the example of National Cancer Grid, Dr CS Pramesh said equalisation of quality of care is what is needed to improve the outcomes.
“We need uniform standards of cancer care throughout the country. Public awareness and education are crucial to make a stage shift of current advanced stage of presentation to an early stage of presentation to reduce the rate of mortality,” said Dr CS Pramesh.
