"Redefining Access: Precision Cancer Care Is a Necessity, Not a Luxury"

Time of India

6 days ago

New Delhi: As India faces a projected 1.5 million new cancer cases annually and the global burden of the disease is expected to rise by 77 per cent by 2050,
Apollo Hospitals
Enterprise Ltd is doubling down on oncology as a cornerstone of its growth and innovation strategy.
Dinesh Madhavan, President, Group Oncology & International, Apollo Hospitals, describes cancer care not just as a clinical challenge, but as a transformational opportunity to redefine healthcare delivery in India.
'With cancer emerging as one of the most urgent non-communicable disease crises in the country, our strategy is to respond with a future-ready, deeply integrated model that can scale with precision,' says Madhavan.
Currently, oncology services contribute around 25 per cent of Apollo's overall healthcare revenue. Madhavan expects this figure to grow significantly, potentially becoming the largest contributor within the next 3–5 years as demand rises for advanced therapies, precision medicine, and AI-driven diagnostics.
Apollo's investment in oncology has been both sustained and strategic over the past decade. In addition to the ₹1,000 crore Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) launched in Chennai in 2019, the hospital has developed a network of high-tech oncology centres across India equipped with
CAR-T cell therapy
(currently in clinical rollout), immunotherapies, nano-medicine, and AI-powered diagnostic platforms.
A recent initiative—the
AI-Precision Oncology Centre
(AI-PoC)—serves as a hub for developing personalized treatment protocols, aided by real-time diagnostics and machine learning algorithms.
While cumulative figures for overall oncology investments remain undisclosed, Madhavan confirms that Apollo's capital roadmap includes another
Proton Therapy
centre in the pipeline.
Making High-Cost Therapies Sustainable
Ensuring the commercial viability of cutting-edge technology is crucial. According to Madhavan, the Proteus ONE Proton Beam Therapy system, currently operational at APC,C is projected to achieve financial breakeven in four to six years, depending on patient mix and location.
The strategy to optimize its use includes expanding eligibility beyond pediatric and CNS cancers to include breast and prostate cancers, where precision is paramount.
'Apollo has built an extensive national referral network, and the AI-PoC helps us identify the right patients with speed and accuracy,' Madhavan explains.
'This ensures optimal utilization and positions Proton Therapy not as a luxury, but as a necessity made accessible.'
Apollo is actively exploring new alliances and acquisitions to deepen its oncology capabilities. Key focus areas include genomics integration for therapy planning, the commercial expansion of CAR-T cell therapy, and global biotech collaborations to bring nano-therapies into routine care.
Responding to the Government's Cancer Push
In response to the government's ₹3,000 crore cancer care allocation, Madhavan emphasises the need for targeted co-investment frameworks that encourage private players to extend high-quality services to underserved areas.
He advocates for a supportive policy environment that includes advanced treatments like Proton Therapy and immunotherapies under public health insurance schemes, making them more accessible and affordable to a broader patient population.
Additionally, he calls for faster regulatory approvals for clinical trials to accelerate innovation, along with duty reductions on imported high-end medical equipment to reduce costs.
To build long-term capacity, Madhavan stresses the importance of government-supported training centres and research hubs that can strengthen India's oncology infrastructure and foster continuous medical advancement.
'Public-private partnerships can transform the cancer care landscape—but only if policy, investment, and infrastructure move in tandem,' he notes.
Looking ahead, Apollo is channeling its investments toward outpatient oncology hubs and home-based chemotherapy programs—models that combine convenience with clinical safety.
Technologies such as remote monitoring, liquid biopsies, and AI diagnostics are expected to accelerate early detection and personalized treatment.