Apollo Cancer Centre, ICMR, IMA, and the State Oncology Association unite in the battle against cancer.
Ahmedabad : Apollo Cancer Centres, in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association, Ahmedabad Hospitals & Nursing Home Association (AHNA), and several other organizations, launched a nationwide initiative named “Unify to Notify” on World Cancer Day, Tuesday, February 4. This campaign urges the Government of India to classify cancer as a notifiable disease, emphasizing the importance of this vital measure in the battle against cancer.
India currently registers more than 1.4 million new cancer cases each year, with projections suggesting this number could reach 1.57 million by this year. By classifying cancer as a notifiable disease, we can facilitate real-time data collection and precise reporting, which will provide a clearer understanding of the disease’s extent. This designation will also aid in the creation of standardized treatment protocols through epidemiological analysis and targeted intervention strategies. Furthermore, this initiative will improve the accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of cancer treatment, ultimately bolstering India’s position in global oncology research and care.
In 2022, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare presented a report to the Rajya Sabha suggesting that cancer be designated as a notifiable disease. Through the Unify to Notify initiative, the healthcare sector remains optimistic that the Government will make the next sensible step by passing this Bill in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during the current budget session.
Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Velu Nair, Head & Chief Consultant, Haemato-Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant, Apollo Cancer Centre , said, “Apollo Cancer Centres has been at the forefront of providing comprehensive cancer care, and we believe that the notification of cancer will enable us to further enhance the services towards better cancer care. By making cancer a notifiable disease, we can ensure that all cancer cases are reported and documented, enabling us to track cancer incidence, mortality and survival rates. This will certainly help deliver better health care, starting from early detection, timely treatment to improve outcomes. We appeal to the union government to take steps to make cancer a notifiable disease at the earliest.”
The ‘Unify to Notify’ campaign represents a yeoman step towards transforming cancer care in India and identifying cancer as a notifiable disease, where every cancer case counts, every patient matters to strive towards inclusivity and no data point is lost in the journey towards better cancer care in India.
Dr Akash Shah, Sr. Consultant, Medical Oncology, Apollo Cancer Centre , said, “Making cancer notifiable will revolutionise our understanding of cancer patterns at the state level and help us identify regional variations in cancer types and risk factors, leading to more targeted prevention programmes. With its network of cancer centres across the country, Apollo will play a critical role in collecting and analysing cancer data.”
Cdr. Jelson Kavalakkat, Chief Operating Officer, Apollo Hospitals Ahmedabad, said, “It takes a collective voice to silence cancer. On this World Cancer Day, we have come together to urge the government to classify cancer as a notifiable disease. Such a move will lead to faster detection, better treatment, stronger prevention and enhanced research, empowering the medical community to fight cancer more effectively. At Apollo Cancer Centres, we have already established a robust cancer registry, which has enabled us to track cancer trends and outcomes. We are now seeking the invaluable support of healthcare and urge the Government of India to pass this bill to enable better cancer care and research across India.”
Dr. Dilip Gadhavi, Joint Secretary, IMA AKN Sinha Institute, said, “We stand firmly with this initiative to make cancer a notifiable disease. This step will bridge the current gaps in our cancer surveillance system and enable better coordination between various healthcare providers.”
Dr Bharat Gadhavi, President, Ahmedabad Hospitals & Nursing Homes Association (AHNA), said, “Making cancer a notifiable disease can revolutionise the approach toward cancer care. With proper documentation of every case, we can better understand patterns, allocate resources efficiently, and develop targeted treatment protocols.”
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also supported the notification of cancer as it will provide crucial epidemiological data needed for evidence-based policy-making. The current estimates of the cancer burden in India are based on limited data. Mandatory reporting will give accurate insights into cancer patterns, helping design better prevention strategies and allocate research funding more effectively.
While 15 states, including Haryana, Karnataka, Tripura, West Bengal, Punjab, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur and Rajasthan, have already made cancer a notifiable disease, nationwide implementation remains a necessity. Globally, over 12 countries including the US, England and Wales, Scotland, Denmark, Nordic nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and The Gambia have recognised the importance of mandatory cancer reporting.
