On Sunday, Prof. Anil D’Cruz, the first Indian president of the UICC, stated that India, like the other 170 or so members of the union, will soon have access to more affordable medications.
Ahmedabad: A cancer patient’s family suffers psychologically and financially due to the treatment, which frequently lasts years. The Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) initiative was started by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), a global organization coordinating efforts against cancer. On Sunday, Prof. Anil D’Cruz, the first Indian president of the UICC, stated that India, like the other 170 or so members of the union, will soon have access to more affordable medications.
On September 24 and 25, the Sterling Oncology Summit was held with the theme “Multidisciplinary Approaches: Current Trends in Common Cancers,” Prof. D’Cruz was one of the keynote speakers. The event was attended by 450 oncologists from all over India.
According to Prof. D’Cruz, the ATOM initiative unites authorities, governments, and significant pharmaceutical companies to address the issue of access to high-quality cancer care. “Through the initiative, we hope to make these medications more accessible and add them to the WHO’s list of essential medications. India would benefit because it is listed among the countries, “he said.
He claimed that in addition to the usual causes of cancer, lifestyle-related problems like obesity were another factor that was becoming more prevalent. “According to estimates, obesity is a contributing factor in 10 to 15 percent of cancer cases in India. Women with obesity are more likely to develop breast and uterine cancers” he added.
To lessen the burden of cancer, Prof. D’Cruz added that India needs a strong and consistent health screening programme. He noted that the majority of patients still show up for examinations at an advanced stage, adding that although Indian oncology researchers are making progress, there is still a long way to go before their work is recognised internationally.
