Pioneering Change: The Modern Face of Cancer Care In India

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The most major health concern worldwide is cancer. It is observed that there is a drastic rise in India from the past few years. So the improvement in most of the methods such as diagnosis, treatment and patient care and support. This blog will delve the information of the areas that explain cancer care in India.

Screening and Detection:

The most important changes in cancer care is early detection and screening. Mostly in India the cancer detection will happen at the advanced stages because of lack of awareness and facilities for screening. Nowadays, most of the research helps to improve the detection of cancer rates.

  • Campaign for Public Awareness: Most of the campaigns from the government and non-government organizations will conduct several activities to educate the public about the importance of early detection for the cancer with most prevalence in India
  • Programs Help in Screening: The most of these programs on screening are conducted in the rural areas, as there will be no access to health care centres. Mobile screening tests and camps are also conducted for the people to access the screening facilities

Diagnostic Technologies:

The diagnostic technologies used in cancer care are becoming cutting edge. These help in the precise and quick detection, these also help in the best treatment planning.

  • Pathology and Imaging Technologies: The most advanced imaging technologies such as PET, MRI and CT helps in the accurate detection and staging of cancer. These are now available in most of the public and private hospitals in India
  • Molecular Diagnostics: The molecular diagnostics such as gene testing and biomarker identification, which helps for cancer treatment. This helps in the detailed understanding of tumor’s genetic information, using target therapies which are most effective and have few side effects

Importance of Technology and Digital Health:

The technology used in cancer care is playing an important role in India. This digital solution and telemedicine is creating a bridge between patients and professionals present in the health care providers.

  • Telemedicine: This technology helps in the consultations in the remote, decreasing the risk of patients to travel long distances for doctors advice. This is mostly helpful for the patients living in rural areas
  • Electronic Health Records(EHR): The usage of these EHR options provides a care for the healthcare professionals to have patient details for the best decision-making and treatment plans
  • Apps Related to Health:These help in providing the details to manage the treatment schedules, symptoms tracking, and information about all the health conditions. These apps also help in the patient’s confidence and for providing best treatment plans.

Improving Accessibility and Affordability:

The most important challenge for cancer care in India is improving the accessibility and also affordability, but efforts are going on to clear this issue.

  • Government Steps: Indian government has provided several programs to especially provide financial assistance to the patients with cancer. The programs such as Ayushman Bharat scheme helps to cover the whole treatment price for economically low patients
  • Non- Profit Organizations: NGOs always play an important role in supporting cancer patients, from low- income areas. These organizations can provide financial aid, services for counselling, logistical support and giving access to cancer care patients to all sections in the society
  • Insurance:The new insurance plans are increasing nowadays. This will provide covering for cancer treatment. This helps in the assistance of financial burden on the families and the patients for the cancer treatment

Research and Clinical Trials:

India is focusing more on cancer research and clinical trials, these help in the world to fight against cancer.

  • Research Organizations: There are several research institutions in India focusing on the research by researchers and scientists to identify the new treatments and improving therapies
  • Clinical Trials: International clinical trials help cancer patients to have the latest drugs and treatments. These are conducted under the strict guidelines, safety precautions and depend mostly on efficacy

Palliative Care and Support Services:

Cancer care will sometimes need the special care known as palliative care and support services for the patients and their family members.

  • Palliative Care: This care mostly helps in improving the quality of life with the best care in the cancer patients. It also helps in the pain management, relief from the symptoms, psychological behavioral support. Most of the hospitals have specialised palliative care for the cancer patients
  • Support Groups: These groups help in providing the confidence and emotional support to the cancer patients and their supporters. It also helps in the patients getting relief from the stress during the cancer diagnosis and treatment

Regional Health Cares:

There will always be challenges in providing progress on cancer care.

  • Urban vs Rural: In urban areas there will always be better infrastructure and advanced treatments. There will always be a gap between the mobile healthcare units, telemedicines
  • At State-Level: Now in India, different states have their own health care to enhance cancer care

Integration of the Traditional Medicine:

India has its own rich heritage in traditional medicine such as Ayurveda, now which is used with modern cancer care to provide holistic treatment choices.

  • Complementary Therapies: The therapies such as yoga, mediation, ayurveda to have an improved cancer care to have better quality of life. It also helps in maintaining the side effects and improves immunity
  • Traditional Medicine Research: Research helps in validating the efficacy of the traditional medicine in cancer care for the patients. It also helps in using these therapies as the mainstream in treatment plans

Future Perspectives:

Promising challenge in the future for India for the advances in the technology, research and health care stream.

  • Artificial Intelligence: Both AI and machine learning have equal importance in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. It can analyse a large amount of data to know the cancer risk , best treatment plans and enhance the patient outcomes
  • Personalised Medicine: The trend of using personalized medicine is increasing; it mostly depends on the person’s genetic profile is becoming most common
  • Global Collaborations: In India, collaborating with the international research organizations or universities has an important role in having innovative and latest advancements for cancer treatment

There will always be a change in cancer care in India by advancements in technologies, awareness programs, improving the infrastructure etc.. There is always a need for combined efforts by the government and NGO health providers to create a way for a bright future for cancer patients in India.

References:

1.https://www.maxhealthcare.in/blogs/changing-face-cancer-care-india-0

2.https://www.weforum.org/stories/2024/01/future-of-cancer-care-exploring-evidence-based-learnings-from-northeast-india/

3.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2217/fon-2023-0047