Cancer treatment in India
From an international perspective as having worked in premier oncology centers outside India I can sum up in one sentence that we Indians are lucky to have centers and skilled professionals in oncology compared to many other countries specially so in Kerala
The cost of cancer treatment is prohibitive the world over
The reason for this is modern medicine is evidence based, every single drug to get an approval takes long years and has to go through rigorous trials based on scientific principles and have to be accepted by bodies like the FDA etc which are later accepted the world over ,
this makes it extremely costly as the medical companies who have invested In research for the molecule needs to get back their investments with profit the cost skyrockets .
Nonprofit and government managed research centers and universities also contribute their mite but the process is lengthy, costly and exhausting.
Patency rules prevent substitution of these molecules for cheaper versions though India so far has been getting away with this in the international market for eg when the breakthrough for Chronic myeloid leukemia TKI inhibitor and targeted agent Imatinib Mesylate came into being with the Times magazine calling it as the magic bullet for Cancer as a breakthrough in cancer treatment .
It produced amazing results in CML though the drug was very costly and then an Indian company Natco created a cheaper version which was more cost productive, with the newer drug policy which the Government is forced to accept these days if it wants to be an international player the cost of cancer drugs can rise abominably and one cannot accuse the government without knowing the intricacies of world trade complexities .
Cancer treatment in India is much cheaper compared to anywhere in the world
Still my point here is how much cheaper drugs used in cancer is in India when compared to the rest of the world
Similarly India today charges the lowest for surgeries, investigations like PET scans or for bone marrow transplants etc
Most of the countries around the world charges 10 to 50 times what is charged in India and this also shows how much potential India has for medical tourism if supported by proper infrastructure and awareness.
Just like in space industry we do it the cheapest with equally good results
The palliative care network in India especially in Kerala is something way ahead of many other countries in the world even in developed countries
Economics of cancer treatment and its burden
Still it is a blow to many families to be spending such huge amounts for a relatively long period as cancer treatment can go on for long in many cases
This is where projects like Sukrutham if done well will help people below poverty line as the government needs to take care of this group
For upper middle class and richer people there should be insurance schemes designed to cover cancer and people should also be made aware of taking medical insurances just like they do for their automobiles etc ,this would help in a big way in the unfortunate instance of their getting cancer
Employee insurance covering cancer should also be instituted mandatorily
Guidelines of Treatment
Oncology treatment in modern medicine all over the world including in all reputed centers in India is done following international guidelines
These like the NCCN,( national comprehensive cancer network )ESMO,( European society of medical oncology ) NICE guideline (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence ) lay down updated guidelines for oncology practioners globally of course the practioners have the flexibility to tailor it to their patients’ needs but generally follow its recommendations .
This makes it very objective
This is lacking in other systems of medicine which are not evidence based .
Research in cancer
there are no scientific trials to many claims which are advertised many formulations given to patients have not gone through stringent scientific scrutiny
systems of medicine where research in a big way is needed in big way like Ayurveda science may contribute a lot ot cancer treatment .
basic research in these systems of medicine indigenous to our country should be our focus as this can be done best here though western countries are also looking seriously into them these days
Research for oncology in modern medicine which is very cost prohibitive is a strain for Indian centers we need to focus more on early detection and intervention, screening and adequate treatment when diagnosed
The cost of cancer treatment is prohibitive the world over
The reason for this is modern medicine is evidence based, every single drug to get an approval takes long years and has to go through rigorous trials based on scientific principles and have to be accepted by bodies like the FDA etc which are later accepted the world over ,
this makes it extremely costly as the medical companies who have invested In research for the molecule needs to get back their investments with profit the cost skyrockets .
Nonprofit and government managed research centers and universities also contribute their mite but the process is lengthy, costly and exhausting.
Patency rules prevent substitution of these molecules for cheaper versions though India so far has been getting away with this in the international market for eg when the breakthrough for Chronic myeloid leukemia TKI inhibitor and targeted agent Imatinib Mesylate came into being with the Times magazine calling it as the magic bullet for Cancer as a breakthrough in cancer treatment .
It produced amazing results in CML though the drug was very costly and then an Indian company Natco created a cheaper version which was more cost productive, with the newer drug policy which the Government is forced to accept these days if it wants to be an international player the cost of cancer drugs can rise abominably and one cannot accuse the government without knowing the intricacies of world trade complexities .
Cancer treatment in India is much cheaper compared to anywhere in the world
Still my point here is how much cheaper drugs used in cancer is in India when compared to the rest of the world
Similarly India today charges the lowest for surgeries, investigations like PET scans or for bone marrow transplants etc
Most of the countries around the world charges 10 to 50 times what is charged in India and this also shows how much potential India has for medical tourism if supported by proper infrastructure and awareness.
Just like in space industry we do it the cheapest with equally good results
The palliative care network in India especially in Kerala is something way ahead of many other countries in the world even in developed countries
Economics of cancer treatment and its burden
Still it is a blow to many families to be spending such huge amounts for a relatively long period as cancer treatment can go on for long in many cases
This is where projects like Sukrutham if done well will help people below poverty line as the government needs to take care of this group
For upper middle class and richer people there should be insurance schemes designed to cover cancer and people should also be made aware of taking medical insurances just like they do for their automobiles etc ,this would help in a big way in the unfortunate instance of their getting cancer
Employee insurance covering cancer should also be instituted mandatorily
Guidelines of Treatment
Oncology treatment in modern medicine all over the world including in all reputed centers in India is done following international guidelines
These like the NCCN,( national comprehensive cancer network )ESMO,( European society of medical oncology ) NICE guideline (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence ) lay down updated guidelines for oncology practioners globally of course the practioners have the flexibility to tailor it to their patients’ needs but generally follow its recommendations .
This makes it very objective
This is lacking in other systems of medicine which are not evidence based .
Research in cancer
there are no scientific trials to many claims which are advertised many formulations given to patients have not gone through stringent scientific scrutiny
systems of medicine where research in a big way is needed in big way like Ayurveda science may contribute a lot ot cancer treatment .
basic research in these systems of medicine indigenous to our country should be our focus as this can be done best here though western countries are also looking seriously into them these days
Research for oncology in modern medicine which is very cost prohibitive is a strain for Indian centers we need to focus more on early detection and intervention, screening and adequate treatment when diagnosed
Effective communication on Cancer
Myths needs to be broken
Public has to be informed of the strides made in oncology
This can be done effectively by media
The general negative attitudes to the disease has to be broken only by good communication for this attitude discourages people from active treatment as they develop a fatalistic attitude to the disease
Communication sadly is not only restricted to lay people many medical professionals themselves are not aware of the importance of instituting timely and correct treatment and screening needs
Myths needs to be broken
Public has to be informed of the strides made in oncology
This can be done effectively by media
The general negative attitudes to the disease has to be broken only by good communication for this attitude discourages people from active treatment as they develop a fatalistic attitude to the disease
Communication sadly is not only restricted to lay people many medical professionals themselves are not aware of the importance of instituting timely and correct treatment and screening needs
The menace of half knowledge
The advances and reach of palliative care and pain management may be a feather in Kerala s crown but it has also created an army of people with half or less than half knowledge who by learning the basics of palliative care come to the conclusion that they have become oncology experts and even at times give wrong advice that but for pain management no other treatment is needed which is counterproductive
Any patient with cancer has to be evaluated by a qualified medical oncologist, surgical oncologist or clinical oncologist/radiotherapist as the need maybe before a line of management is instituted
There is a lacuna in the number of such qualified people but Kerala is better off compared to other states in this matter
Many of the cancers today if diagnosed early can be cured while some become like chronic diseases like Diabetes etc
The large number of people who fall for scams and quackery in Kerala is well known, misleading advertisements offering get quick cures for cancer patient make them easy prey to such charlatans and many lose a fortune on supplements most of which are not only useless but also harmful for the patient
Many of these supplements also contain heavy metals and steroids which can harm the patient and prevent him from having treatment later
The advances and reach of palliative care and pain management may be a feather in Kerala s crown but it has also created an army of people with half or less than half knowledge who by learning the basics of palliative care come to the conclusion that they have become oncology experts and even at times give wrong advice that but for pain management no other treatment is needed which is counterproductive
Any patient with cancer has to be evaluated by a qualified medical oncologist, surgical oncologist or clinical oncologist/radiotherapist as the need maybe before a line of management is instituted
There is a lacuna in the number of such qualified people but Kerala is better off compared to other states in this matter
Many of the cancers today if diagnosed early can be cured while some become like chronic diseases like Diabetes etc
The large number of people who fall for scams and quackery in Kerala is well known, misleading advertisements offering get quick cures for cancer patient make them easy prey to such charlatans and many lose a fortune on supplements most of which are not only useless but also harmful for the patient
Many of these supplements also contain heavy metals and steroids which can harm the patient and prevent him from having treatment later
Exploitation of cancer patients by false claims
This is not only in Kerala but all over the world
Cancer cures are multicrore business and umpteen claims which appear scientific for the layman are available today in the internet
Many are not only a waste of money that could be used for better nutrition and proper treatment some are potentially harmful by causing renal failure or liver failure and preventing much needed treatment ,some delay treatment as patients tend to put off their conventional treatments for the claims .
Its always advisable to discuss with the oncologist any food fads or cancer cures
The Government should bring effective scrutiny of such claims and spread the message that false calims are unscientific and harmful
This is not only in Kerala but all over the world
Cancer cures are multicrore business and umpteen claims which appear scientific for the layman are available today in the internet
Many are not only a waste of money that could be used for better nutrition and proper treatment some are potentially harmful by causing renal failure or liver failure and preventing much needed treatment ,some delay treatment as patients tend to put off their conventional treatments for the claims .
Its always advisable to discuss with the oncologist any food fads or cancer cures
The Government should bring effective scrutiny of such claims and spread the message that false calims are unscientific and harmful
Multispecialty inputs for cancer
Oncology treatment is multispecialty and it needs the services and skills of surgeon, radiotherapist medical oncologists and many other specialties like infectious diseases nephrologist’s cardiologists and so many other specialties during the treatment
the role of psychologists physiotherapists oncology trained nurses and palliative care physicians the holistic management of a cancer patient are equally important
The time has still not come when one could say that cancer is not a fearsome diagnosis to hit families it is still so its is devastating for the family materially, psychologically and morally and it is an uphill task to go through the treatment which has many complications
But the time has come to say that the progress made in modern oncology has decreased the side effects of treatment to a large extent the sophistication of targeted treatment precision radiotherapy sophisticated surgical skills and diagnostic equipment’s have all created a vast difference between the mortality and morbidity rates of cancer sufferers
The need for Kerala is to recognize its advantages in this field and try to support and improve its services
Involvement of government with newer projects participation of organizations lessen the burden of the patients while the medias role is in imparting the right information and in reducing the scare and panic the word cancer has brought along with it while explaining the changes happening over the years and warning the going astray from instituted evidence based medicine into the lure of charlatans
Screening in Cancer
There are only three types of cancer where screening is approved
Colon cancer Breast cancer and cervix cancer ,there are guidelines for screening ,this has to be encouraged by adequate media coverage and everyone should take up screening to detect earlier and have a better outcome
For this awareness is very important
Oncology treatment is multispecialty and it needs the services and skills of surgeon, radiotherapist medical oncologists and many other specialties like infectious diseases nephrologist’s cardiologists and so many other specialties during the treatment
the role of psychologists physiotherapists oncology trained nurses and palliative care physicians the holistic management of a cancer patient are equally important
The time has still not come when one could say that cancer is not a fearsome diagnosis to hit families it is still so its is devastating for the family materially, psychologically and morally and it is an uphill task to go through the treatment which has many complications
But the time has come to say that the progress made in modern oncology has decreased the side effects of treatment to a large extent the sophistication of targeted treatment precision radiotherapy sophisticated surgical skills and diagnostic equipment’s have all created a vast difference between the mortality and morbidity rates of cancer sufferers
The need for Kerala is to recognize its advantages in this field and try to support and improve its services
Involvement of government with newer projects participation of organizations lessen the burden of the patients while the medias role is in imparting the right information and in reducing the scare and panic the word cancer has brought along with it while explaining the changes happening over the years and warning the going astray from instituted evidence based medicine into the lure of charlatans
Screening in Cancer
There are only three types of cancer where screening is approved
Colon cancer Breast cancer and cervix cancer ,there are guidelines for screening ,this has to be encouraged by adequate media coverage and everyone should take up screening to detect earlier and have a better outcome
For this awareness is very important
For all the disadvantages a country like India has it also has advantages
We need to strengthen our positives and to fill in our deficiencies
The right picture of the disease is to be communicated efficiently while at the same time myths needs to be broken.
Cancer management is hardy path but a lot had been travelled and can be so too .
We need to strengthen our positives and to fill in our deficiencies
The right picture of the disease is to be communicated efficiently while at the same time myths needs to be broken.
Cancer management is hardy path but a lot had been travelled and can be so too .
Picture was taken when i was in Brunei cancer center
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