Healthcare experts stress for more innovative cancer care models at IHW Council’s 3rd Cancer E-summit

Healthcare experts emphasised the need to bring down cancer treatment cost to ensure it falls under the ambit of Universal Health Care

Renowned Oncologists and healthcare experts proposed the need for more innovative approaches to ensure accessibility, affordability, and most importantly, equitability of cancer care and treatment in India. According to them, these include additional funding solutions, encouraging more health start-ups to provide cancer care, adoption of standard treatment guidelines to improve quality of care. The experts said that although India has come a long way in cancer research, thanks to the Government of India’s assiduousness through several schemes in tackling the rising burden of the disease, however, the need of the hour is to change the existing status quo.

Vibhav Garg, Director-Health Economics & Govt Affairs, India HUB & ASEAN, Boston Scientific said, “From diagnoses, treatment, and prevention, India, as a country, has come a long way, as far as making progress in cancer research is concerned. However, when we talk about including cancer in the ambit of Universal Health Care, we have quite a long way to go. As a starter, we have to make the treatment affordable to the majority of Indians who hail from the lower-middle-class strata. Despite the quality of cancer in treatment, as long as we are not making it affordable and accessible to the common man, we will not be able to win this battle.”

The scenario has improved massively, according to Jose Peter, Co-founder & CEO, Arogya Finance, thanks to the Government of India’s flagship, Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) scheme in bridging these gaps by providing cancer treatment across a large network of Empanelled Health Care Providers (EHCPs).

“However, there are many loose ends. Besides bringing down the cost of cancer treatment, what will make cancer treatment accessible to the majority of Indians is the continuation of Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) and, most importantly, the need for cashless insurance. The latter is far more important than the former,” remarked Jose.

The 3rd Cancer e-Summit by the IHW Council also shed light on another burning issue in cancer detection, i.e., of ‘Timely Diagnoses and Consequences of Delayed Health Services’.

Dr Harsh Mahajan, President, Indian Radiology & Imaging Association and Founder & Chief Radiologist, Mahajan Imaging added, “India is a curious case as far as tackling cancer is concerned. India does provide quality care in cancer treatment, and it is quite cheaper than what is available in our neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Despite that, many people fall into this dept trap while financing cancer treatment from their own pockets. This is one of the reasons behind the diagnosis delays apart from the fear and costly taboo that prevail in our societies at large.”

So, where lies the solution? “Educate all audiences, particularly in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, on cancer-related issues, including prevention, risks, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care. The educational programs, classes and support to patients with cancer, their caregivers, staff and the public play a big role,” said Dr Vineet Talwar, Director, Department of Medical Oncology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre.

Another key issue that was explained and dissected in detail was about ‘Accelerating Equitable Access by forging Cross-Sectoral Partnerships & Collaboration,’. The discussion pressed towards the grave need for forging a multi-level cancer care structure, with close collaboration including various stakeholders, partners to arrive at a well-planned and methodical health outcome as far as cancer is concerned.

“Cancer is one such disease that requires a thorough engagement of non-health stakeholders with the ones from the health domain. Also, such collaborations involve a problem-centric approach where key stakeholders can address the deeply rooted asymmetries of power, asymmetry of agencies and information within the communities in our societies where the cancer patients are located,” said Somesh Kumar, Country Director, Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics, India.

Kamal Narayan, CEO, IHW Council said, “According to the World Health Organization, cancer is among the leading causes of death globally. And it’s far too visible to all as most of us personally know someone affected by cancer – whether we witness the fight of a loved one directly or while seeing the worry of their family and friends.  Over the last few decades, or if we can say, over the last few years, both oncology and cancer research have received a great degree of attention and fillip, both of which were much needed to tackle the rising burden of this disease worldwide. However, not much has been achieved to reduce the impact of cancer by focusing on the six critical engines of, ‘Universal Prevention’, ‘Screening’, ‘Early Diagnosis’, ‘Improving Access’, ‘Cure’, and ‘Palliative Survivorship Care’. So, through a RAPID way, there is clarion call to achieve these objectives and plug the gaps in priority, policy, or practices that makes our people vulnerable to cancer and, more shockingly, to mortality in the absence of a coherent, affordable, and accessible response.”

“Cancer is one particular disease that can be cured and prevented through effective interventions, unlike some of the other life-threatening diseases like diabetes and hypertension. What RAPID is trying to achieve to fill the gaps as far as improving access, early diagnoses are concerned, is indeed praiseworthy. India has come a long way in care and prevention, but more can be done through excellent initiatives like RAPID,” said Dr G K Rath, Head, National Cancer Institute (India), Chief Radiologist and Prof. & HoD-Radiation Oncology, Dr BRA Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, AIIMS.

Talking about the existing gaps in cancer care and prevention in India, Dr Ashok K. Vaid, Chairman, Medanta Cancer Institute, said, “What will give a boost in India’s cancer scenario is ground-breaking research and having necessary infrastructure when it comes to cancer and prevention. 40 per cent of cancers are preventable. But what about the other 60 per cent? There are big issues related to the expense and access. For instance, New Delhi and the NCR region has just 30 cancer centres which, interestingly, has the highest concentration of cancer centres in the country. On the other hand, there is so much incongruity if you consider this scenario with the rest of the country. So, all in all, India needs to invest big time in cancer research, infrastructure, and most importantly, have its own medicine to treat the disease, given the fact that our population is expected to grow in the next few decades.”