A walkathon was carried out on the occasion of World Cancer Day in Mysuru on Tuesday, with a message of prioritising ‘early cancer screening.’ A campaign was also launched to urge the government to classify cancer as a notifiable disease in India.
Bharath Hospital and Institute of Oncology, in collaboration with Heritage City College, conducted the walkathon and encouraged the community to prioritise early cancer screenings and preventive measures. It announced that the community could get a free second opinion and a 50% discount on mammography tests for one month.
Meanwhile, the Apollo Cancer Centre, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Indian Medical Association (IMA), and the State Oncology Associations, launched the campaign ‘Unify to Notify’.
“Through this campaign, the ACC has urged the government to declare cancer as a notifiable disease in India. It will be a crucial step towards strengthening cancer, care, mandating reporting of all diagnosed cases, enabling accurate data collection and resource allocation, and policy making,” noted a statement.
“By making cancer a notifiable disease, we can ensure that every cancer case counts, every patient’s story is heard, and every individual receives the compassionate and emphatic care they deserve. The ‘Unify to Notify’ aims to create a collective effort to prioritise the needs of individuals and communities that would ultimately transform cancer care in India,” it noted.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare had, in 2022, submitted a report to the Rajya Sabha, recommending cancer be classified as a notifiable disease, the statement added.
N.G. Bharateesha Reddy, vice president and unit head of Apollo BGS Hospitals, Mysuru, said, “Classifying cancer as a notifiable disease will provide them with crucial epidemiological data needed for evidence-based policymaking.”
“Our current estimates of cancer burden in India are based on limited data. Mandatory reporting will give us accurate insights into cancer patterns, help us design better prevention strategies, and allocate research funding more effectively,” he said.
Dr. Parameshwar Naik D., president of IMA – Mysuru, said that such a step will bridge the current gaps in our cancer surveillance system and enable better coordination between various healthcare providers.
“By making cancer a notifiable disease, we can ensure that all cancer cases are reported and documented. This will enable us to track cancer incidence, mortality, and survival rates,” he said.
On the occasion, Apollo BGS Hospitals in Mysuru launched a dedicated female-led breast care clinic.
Published – February 04, 2025 06:24 pm IST