Cancer cases are rising annually, with projections indicating an increase to 1.57 million by 2025. With accurate data, health authorities can allocate resources more efficiently, ensuring that areas with higher cancer rates receive appropriate medical facilities, screening programmes, and treatment centres.
Published Feb 06, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 06, 2025 | 7:00 AM
A woman receives radiation therapy treatment for breast cancer. (iStock)
Synopsis: Apollo Cancer Centres, along with the Indian Medical Association, has launched a nationwide campaign urging the Government of India to classify cancer as a notifiable disease, which would mandate reporting of all cancer cases across the country. Experts argue that mandatory notification would improve cancer surveillance, enable better resource allocation, and help create comprehensive data for research and policy-making, especially given India’s projected rise to 1.57 million cancer cases by 2025.
Apollo Cancer Centres, in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association, has recently launched a nationwide campaign to urge the Government of India to classify cancer as a notifiable disease.
The campaign, titled ‘Unify to Notify’, is a crucial step in combating the growing prevalence of the illness, say doctors from Apollo Hospitals. Cancer cases are rising annually, with projections indicating an increase to 1.57 million by 2025.
In 2022, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare recommended that cancer be classified as a notifiable disease. Thus far, no action has been taken.
Through this initiative, industry experts hope the Government of India will pass the necessary legislation.
Designating cancer as a notifiable disease is crucial for several reasons. Doctors said that designating cancer as a notifiable disease will mandate the reporting of cancer cases, ensuring comprehensive and precise data on cancer incidence and prevalence. This data is vital for understanding the true burden of cancer and for effective public health planning.
Speaking to South First, Dr Vijay Agarwal, Professor and Lead consultant of Medical Oncology at Apollo Hospitals in Bengaluru, said India currently reports over 14 lakh new cancer cases annually.
“It will revolutionise our understanding of cancer patterns at the state level. It will help us identify regional variations in cancer types and risk factors, leading to more targeted prevention programmes,” he added.
With accurate data, health authorities can allocate resources more efficiently, ensuring that areas with higher cancer rates receive appropriate medical facilities, screening programmes, and treatment centres.
Notification systems, doctors explain, will enable continuous monitoring of cancer trends, allowing for the assessment of prevention and control programmes’ effectiveness and facilitating timely interventions. Reliable data supports evidence-based policymaking, aiding in the formulation of targeted cancer control strategies and health policies.
Meanwhile, comprehensive cancer registries provide a valuable resource for researchers, leading to better understanding of cancer aetiology, risk factors, and outcomes, ultimately contributing to improved treatment protocols.
Globally, over 12 countries – the US, England and Wales, Scotland, Denmark, Nordic countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Gambia – have recognised the importance of mandatory cancer reporting.
Dr Vijayanand, President of the IMA Bangalore, emphasised the importance of this move, stating, “The IMA stands 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. 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.”
Dinesh Madhavan, President-Group Oncology and International at Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited (AHEL), highlighted the need for a unified approach: “The need of the hour is to ‘Unify to Notify.’ Cancer cannot be fought in silos – it demands a collective approach. Making cancer a notifiable disease will enable policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers to work with real-time data, leading to stronger prevention, early detection, and better treatment outcomes. At Apollo Cancer Centres, we are committed to collaborate and drive this change and urge the Government to take this crucial step toward transforming India’s cancer care landscape.”
Dr Manish Mattoo, CEO of Karnataka and Central Region at AHEL, said, “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.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Chetana Belagere)
