It is close to 3 decades now that Surgical Oncology emerged as an important specialty of surgical practice in India. First CME programme in Oncology was held by Tata Memorial Hospital in 1975 attended by 200 surgeons from all over the country. Success of this programme led Dr B Ramamurthy, the then President of Association of Surgeons of India (ASI) to invite Dr Ashok Mehta to organize first CME in Oncology at Ahmedabad Conference in December 1975. Dr Ashok Mehta wrote to the ASI for starting Oncology Section of ASI after success of the CME. A resolution was passed and Oncology Section was created at the Annual ASI Conference in Delhi in 1976.
Know MoreA Call for Unity in Cancer Care: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor Patients in India
In a country where the stark contrast between the urban elite and rural poor continues to shape many aspects of life, the field of oncology is no exception. While patients in affluent areas receive state-of-the-art cancer care, those in rural regions or low-income urban centers face barriers that hinder access to even basic treatment. The government doesn’t have enough resources. Whenever a government spends money, the major share goes to the metros and the tier 1 city healthcare, as most of the population stays there. The Government schemes have helped, but the amount given is measly and more funds and benefits need to be offered for equitable healthcare. The Corporate sector doesn’t have any interest or profits to invest in the peripheral population, which may not be cost-effective. The attitude of private insurance companies is equally negative and they treat peripheral centers with disregard. The insurance money offered to the rural hospitals is a pittance. Unfortunately, even charitable organizations find it easy and populist, to donate and help, only to urban health care. Finally, the rural populace is left to fend for themselves. For a disease as mortal and devastating as cancer, this gap in care can often mean the difference between life and death.
The onus of equitable healthcare is definitely on the government but as oncology professionals, we cannot be mere bystanders. Most importantly, we have the power to shape the future of cancer care in our country. People are working with limited resources and providing the best efforts in the periphery but a majority of them remain powerless to change the system. This is a call to action, particularly to senior and well-placed oncologists, to come together and address this disparity. It is not only a moral imperative but also a medical responsibility to ensure that the care we provide is equitable—so that every patient, regardless of their economic background, receives the same high standard of care.
The Benefits of Equitable Care.
We are a very heterogeneous nation with different cultures, languages, socioeconomic strata, and beliefs. We cannot change all this easily. However for our nation to develop, we can improve on equitable education and healthcare. Only when we become equitable can we qualify to be a developing nation. We have a big GDP, we have sent missions to the moon and Mars, we have a strong army, a very tall statue, we have the richest men, and we have nuclear weapons and missiles, but we still are a developing nation. Even some wealthy nations are developing nations just because they aren’t equitable. And there are nations like Israel, Sweden, and New Zealand who don’t figure in any great showpieces or any great individual achievements but still qualify as developed countries. Individual glory doesn't mean anything unless we develop the nation as a whole.
Challenge: Unequal Access to Cancer Care
The statistics are well-known: In urban areas, wealthier patients have access to educated professionals, cutting-edge diagnostic tools, advanced treatments, and specialized care. Meanwhile, in rural and underserved areas, patients often must travel great distances, endure long waiting times, and face crippling financial barriers to access even basic oncology services.
The reasons behind this disparity are multifaceted: inadequate healthcare infrastructure, shortage of trained personnel, limited availability of medicines, and insufficient funding. As intellectuals, we must understand the gravity of the situation. I routinely see the frustration in our patients’ eyes as they wait for appointments, struggle to afford medications, or simply can’t access the treatment they need. The despair on their faces, when they realize that they cannot afford some high-quality treatment, is clear and saddening.
The Role of IASO: Leaders in Change
This is where senior and well-established oncosurgeons can make a transformative difference. Our experience, leadership, and position within the medical community grant you the unique ability to lead change. Not only can you directly improve the care your patients receive, but you also have the power to advocate for policy changes, raise awareness, and rally resources to help those in need. Mentorship of younger oncologists and the creation of training programs for physicians in underserved areas can ensure that quality care is not limited to a select few. We need partnerships with academic institutions, governments, and NGOs, so we can foster collaboration that leads to lasting change. Some of our powerful and senior oncologists and institutions have the clout to influence funding decisions and improve the allocation of resources toward the underfunded. Many of us are powerful and well-connected enough to nudge the Politicians and bureaucrats to fund and support the deficiencies, especially the Government scheme packages. The onus is on these people to help improve the healthcare to equitable levels.
A Shared Vision for the Future
The road ahead will not be easy, but it is not impossible. As cancer surgeons, we all share a singular goal, a responsibility, and a moral: to ensure that our patients, no matter where they live or how much they earn, have access to the life-saving care they deserve. With the collective efforts of senior oncologists, youngsters, the government, and the healthcare community as a whole, we can build a future where cancer care is no longer determined by wealth or location.
The time to act is now. Let’s unite in our mission to provide compassionate, high-quality cancer care for all, and ensure that those providing these services are taken care of.
Leadership is not about being the best, winning a prize, or an achievement. It is a responsibility on an arduous trek where we don't leave anyone behind.
With profound gratitude,
Dr Sharad Desai
President, IASO
Director of Surgical Oncology and Robotic Surgery Venkateshwar Cancer Hospital
Hello Everyone,
Cancer is the new epidemic of the millennium. The number of patients diagnosed with cancer in India per year is reaching to almost fifteen lakh and more than half of these patients are dying of cancer sooner or later. One of the main reasons for high mortality from cancer is non-availability of treating facilities across the country. Majority of these cancers are solid cancers, and surgery is an important part of the treatment and contributes significantly to the survival of the patient. For the country at large, proper training in cancer surgery and availability of trained man power in cancer surgery are real needs of the hour.
At present per year nearly 250 new cancer surgeons are getting trained all across India. There are many roadblocks for creation and maintenance of adequately trained manpower. This include issues like inadequate distribution of the training facilities in the country, non-uniformity of training modules across various institutions, lacunae in skill and knowledge updation of the practising surgical oncologists and lack of job security for the freshly passing out cancer surgeons. But our fraternity is blessed with certain privileges as well; so many of our senior peers are top leaders in oncology : many are heading various major institutes, many are members in committees deciding the curriculum of medical education and public health care in the country and many are involved in training a large number of surgeons in Surgical Oncology. I strongly feel that it is the responsibility of IASO is to connect these leaders ,who are also international stalwarts in surgical oncology , to young budding onco-surgeons and use their collective opinions, power and actions to create better environment for the younger onco-surgeons and cancer surgery in the country .
I think IASO now with the vibrant leadership is progressing further, and spreading its wing across India and abroad , by it’s efforts and also collaborating with many national and international associations . I am sure all these attempts are going to brighten the scope of specialty of Surgical Oncology in the country. I am happy that I got the mandate to serve this association in a key role and I assure you that surgical oncology will prevail.
Thank you
Jai IASO
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