India reports 15 lakh new cancer cases annually, focus must be on prevention and early diagnosis, says Anupriya Patel

With nearly 15 lakh new cancer cases being reported annually in India early detection and prevention remain India’s biggest weapons against the growing cancer burden, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel on Monday said.

Addressing the silver jubilee celebrations of the Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute in Hyderabad, Ms. Patel described the institution as a shining example of compassionate care, dedicated service and social commitment.

Describing cancer as a major public health challenge, Ms. Patel said advances in prevention, medical technologies and treatment had improved survival rates and patient outcomes. However, changing lifestyles and environmental factors continued to contribute to the rising incidence of the disease. “The real challenge before us today is not just in providing affordable and quality treatment, but in preventing cancer and detecting it at an early stage,” she said, adding that early diagnosis significantly improves survival rates.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, who addressed the gathering virtually, said the hospital’s 25-year journey reflected the vision of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao to provide affordable cancer treatment while promoting medical education and research in oncology. “The institution, which began with 100 beds, has grown into a 650-bed hospital equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment facilities and supported by a team of more than 250 specialists in surgical, medical and radiation oncology,” he said.

Telangana Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha said cancer was one of the most significant non-communicable diseases confronting society and noted that changing lifestyles, dietary habits and environmental factors were contributing to the increasing number of cases.

“Telangana has declared cancer a notifiable disease and established a cancer registry and a dedicated cancer portal for reporting cases. Cancer care centres had also been set up in teaching hospitals at district headquarters to ensure that patients could access treatment closer to their homes,” he added.

Hospital chairman and actor Nandamuri Balakrishna said the institution measured its success not in numbers but in the lives transformed and families reunited. Support from philanthropists and donors had enabled the establishment of advanced radiation facilities and South India’s first bone marrow transplantation programme, which had emerged as one of the most respected programmes in the region.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu recalled that specialised cancer treatment facilities were scarce when the hospital was conceived and that patients often faced immense hardship in accessing care. Following the death of his wife Basavatarakam, late N.T. Rama Rao envisioned an institution that would provide advanced cancer treatment irrespective of a patient’s economic status.

Crediting Mr. Balakrishna with transforming the institution, Mr. Naidu said the Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital had evolved into a temple for cancer patients and stood as a symbol of hope and healing for thousands of families.

Also present at the occasion were former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, several other dignitaries and cancer survivors.