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The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Inadequate diagnostic services still a critical gap in cancer care in India: NAMS report
One of the critical gaps in cancer care in India is the lack of adequate diagnostic services, finds the latest report by the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), an advisory body to the Central government for health policy and planning. India is recording nearly 200,000 new cancer cases each year, the report adds. The 'NAMS Task Force Report on Breast Cancer in India' published recently notes that the proportion of patients diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age is notably higher in India when compared with high income countries. Additionally, patients in India tend to present with later stage disease compared to the West. More than 60% of patients in India present at Stage 3 or 4, while around 60% of the patients in the U.S. are diagnosed in situ or at Stage 1. It adds that more than 50% of patients in India experience a delay of over three months before seeking medical care. In India, breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women, and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. NAMS established a task force to prepare a report addressing this critical issue, and said that there was an urgent need for a comprehensive approach to effectively manage the disease. Gaps in diagnostic services, treatment modalities, and lack of awareness are among the shortcomings in cancer care in India, the report said. 'Breast cancer is treatable when diagnosed in its early stages. In India the survival rate for patients with breast cancer is lower compared to Western countries due to several factors, including the late-stage presentation, delayed initiation of definitive management, and inadequate or fragmented treatment,'' the paper states. The NAMS's task force is also looking into developing guidelines for stakeholders involved in combating breast cancer across the Indian population. Experts note that middle income countries, including India, are expected to be largely responsible for the increase in cancer incidence worldwide over the next 50 years. 'Sixty percent of the global population resides in Asia, which accounts for 50% of cancer cases and 58% of cancer-related deaths. Furthermore, India ranks third in accounting for cancer cases, following China and the United States of America. The projected cancer burden in India is estimated to reach 2.08 million by 2040, representing a 57.5% increase from 2020,'' the paper states. The NAMS report also finds that the landscape of cancer care in India has seen significant advancements in treatment modalities and preventive measures. 'Ayushman Arogya Mandir initiative currently has over 1,63,402 operational centres by the end of 2023. Within these centres, primary healthcare teams have conducted a staggering 10.04 crore breast cancer screenings, underscoring the programme's commitment to widespread outreach and accessibility,'' the report said.
Economic Times
22-04-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
India faces a silent cervical cancer crisis: Every 8 minutes, a woman dies, but HPV vaccine and early screening could prevent it
The National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) has recommended categorising cancer as a notifiable disease to improve prevention and treatment in India. The organisation emphasised the importance of indigenous HPV tests and vaccines in cancer screening, alongside strengthening diagnostic infrastructure. Key recommendations include early detection, timely treatment, and a national cancer screening programme to reduce mortality rates, particularly from cervical and breast cancer. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Indigenous HPV tests: A game changer for early detection HPV Vaccination: A key to prevention Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A stark cancer reality: The need for comprehensive data Improving infrastructure and screening for better outcomes The 90:70:90 Target for 2030 The National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) is urging the Indian government to categorise cancer as a notifiable disease in order to improve its monitoring, prevention, and treatment strategies. This would allow health authorities to track cases more effectively and respond swiftly to emerging trends. NAMS has also highlighted the role of indigenous HPV tests and vaccines as crucial tools in the fight against cervical and breast cancer , with plans to incorporate them into the national health the 65th foundation day of NAMS, officials presented a comprehensive report from the task force on cervical and breast cancer in India. Dr Neerja Bhatla, a leading expert and vice president of NAMS, discussed the current state of cervical cancer testing, as reported by TOI. Although HPV testing is the primary method for detecting cervical cancer, its high cost has limited its widespread use. To overcome this challenge, indigenous HPV tests have been developed. These tests are more affordable, easier to use, and require less training, making them suitable for implementation in primary healthcare to the TOI report, Dr Bhatla noted, "Positive test results shouldn't cause alarm. They only indicate a potential risk. Cervical cancer develops gradually through a precancerous phase and remains preventable and treatable when detected early." The task force anticipates that these new tests will be incorporated into India's national programme, offering a simplified, cost-effective approach to cancer addition to improved testing, NAMS is advocating for the inclusion of the HPV vaccine in the national immunisation programme. This vaccine is a critical tool in preventing cervical cancer, and the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) has already recommended its inclusion. However, there are logistical challenges, particularly regarding whether a single or double dose regimen should be adopted. Experts are currently conducting trials on single-dose vaccines, with results expected in the coming HPV vaccine's potential to significantly reduce cervical cancer incidence is enormous, but logistical considerations must be addressed. The Indian government is working to ensure the capacity for nationwide implementation, which includes determining the most effective dosage and ensuring equitable to NAMS, comprehensive data collection is essential for effective policy formulation and cancer prevention. The task force's literature review found that cancer screening in India is currently insufficient, especially for cervical and breast cancers. NAMS officials stressed that all women over the age of 30 should undergo regular cancer screening, but the country's current screening rates remain cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India, despite being the fourth most common globally. One woman dies from cervical cancer every eight minutes in the country, making it a significant public health concern. Similarly, breast cancer, which now accounts for 13.5% of all cancers in India, has seen a dramatic increase in incidence over the past few decades. Today, India records one breast cancer diagnosis every four SM Bose, a council member of NAMS, provided a detailed analysis of breast cancer care systems across India. The task force found that the country faces significant shortcomings in diagnosing and treating breast cancer. With approximately 200,000 new cases annually, the task force found that diagnostic services, particularly imaging and pathology, are inadequate. There is also a lack of access to advanced treatment options such as surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic address these gaps, NAMS is calling for an urgent upgrade to India's healthcare infrastructure. Strengthening diagnostic services and expanding treatment options will be crucial to improving outcomes for breast cancer patients. Furthermore, the task force advocates for a national screening programme that focuses on early detection and prevention, which is vital for reducing the cancer has set an ambitious target for the next decade: to achieve a 90% vaccination rate, 70% screening rate, and 90% timely treatment for diagnosed cervical cancer cases by 2030. Reaching these targets would significantly reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in India, with the goal of bringing the rate to fewer than 4 cases per 100,000 women need for comprehensive cancer prevention and treatment strategies in India is more urgent than ever. With innovative solutions such as indigenous HPV tests, vaccines, and improved healthcare infrastructure, there is hope for better early detection and more effective treatment. The push for cancer to be classified as a notifiable disease will further strengthen the country's ability to respond to the growing cancer crisis. By implementing these recommendations, NAMS believes that India can significantly reduce cancer mortality and ensure a healthier future for millions of women.(With inputs from TOI)
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
India faces a silent cervical cancer crisis: Every 8 minutes, a woman dies, but HPV vaccine and early screening could prevent it
The National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) is urging the Indian government to categorise cancer as a notifiable disease in order to improve its monitoring, prevention, and treatment strategies. This would allow health authorities to track cases more effectively and respond swiftly to emerging trends. NAMS has also highlighted the role of indigenous HPV tests and vaccines as crucial tools in the fight against cervical and breast cancer , with plans to incorporate them into the national health programme. Indigenous HPV tests: A game changer for early detection On the 65th foundation day of NAMS, officials presented a comprehensive report from the task force on cervical and breast cancer in India. Dr Neerja Bhatla, a leading expert and vice president of NAMS, discussed the current state of cervical cancer testing, as reported by TOI. Although HPV testing is the primary method for detecting cervical cancer, its high cost has limited its widespread use. To overcome this challenge, indigenous HPV tests have been developed. These tests are more affordable, easier to use, and require less training, making them suitable for implementation in primary healthcare centres. According to the TOI report, Dr Bhatla noted, "Positive test results shouldn't cause alarm. They only indicate a potential risk. Cervical cancer develops gradually through a precancerous phase and remains preventable and treatable when detected early." The task force anticipates that these new tests will be incorporated into India's national programme, offering a simplified, cost-effective approach to cancer screening. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:-:- Loaded : 0% 0:00:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - -:-:- 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Car Novels Undo HPV Vaccination: A key to prevention In addition to improved testing, NAMS is advocating for the inclusion of the HPV vaccine in the national immunisation programme. This vaccine is a critical tool in preventing cervical cancer, and the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) has already recommended its inclusion. However, there are logistical challenges, particularly regarding whether a single or double dose regimen should be adopted. Experts are currently conducting trials on single-dose vaccines, with results expected in the coming years. The HPV vaccine's potential to significantly reduce cervical cancer incidence is enormous, but logistical considerations must be addressed. The Indian government is working to ensure the capacity for nationwide implementation, which includes determining the most effective dosage and ensuring equitable distribution. Live Events A stark cancer reality: The need for comprehensive data According to NAMS, comprehensive data collection is essential for effective policy formulation and cancer prevention. The task force's literature review found that cancer screening in India is currently insufficient, especially for cervical and breast cancers. NAMS officials stressed that all women over the age of 30 should undergo regular cancer screening, but the country's current screening rates remain low. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India, despite being the fourth most common globally. One woman dies from cervical cancer every eight minutes in the country, making it a significant public health concern. Similarly, breast cancer, which now accounts for 13.5% of all cancers in India, has seen a dramatic increase in incidence over the past few decades. Today, India records one breast cancer diagnosis every four minutes. Improving infrastructure and screening for better outcomes Prof SM Bose, a council member of NAMS, provided a detailed analysis of breast cancer care systems across India. The task force found that the country faces significant shortcomings in diagnosing and treating breast cancer. With approximately 200,000 new cases annually, the task force found that diagnostic services, particularly imaging and pathology, are inadequate. There is also a lack of access to advanced treatment options such as surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapies. To address these gaps, NAMS is calling for an urgent upgrade to India's healthcare infrastructure. Strengthening diagnostic services and expanding treatment options will be crucial to improving outcomes for breast cancer patients. Furthermore, the task force advocates for a national screening programme that focuses on early detection and prevention, which is vital for reducing the cancer burden. The 90:70:90 Target for 2030 NAMS has set an ambitious target for the next decade: to achieve a 90% vaccination rate, 70% screening rate, and 90% timely treatment for diagnosed cervical cancer cases by 2030. Reaching these targets would significantly reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in India, with the goal of bringing the rate to fewer than 4 cases per 100,000 women annually. The need for comprehensive cancer prevention and treatment strategies in India is more urgent than ever. With innovative solutions such as indigenous HPV tests, vaccines, and improved healthcare infrastructure, there is hope for better early detection and more effective treatment. The push for cancer to be classified as a notifiable disease will further strengthen the country's ability to respond to the growing cancer crisis. By implementing these recommendations, NAMS believes that India can significantly reduce cancer mortality and ensure a healthier future for millions of women.
