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Publication: The Crest Mumbai;Date: May 22, 2010;Section: Cover Story;Page: 12

MALATHY IYER

PREVENTION IS KEY:

Prevention is better than cure, especially in the case of cancer. “Yet only three of the 25 regional cancer centres in
India have a preventive cancer department,” says Dr A Nandakumar of the National Cancer Registry Programme. A
plea to the government to set up such departments in all hospitals, both public and private, has so far evoked no
response.

SPREAD IT OUT:

Cancer treatment in India is wrongly confined to a few dedicated centres, says Dr P Jagannath, one of the senior-most
hepato-bililary cancer surgeons in the country. The US, for instance, has only two stand-alone cancer centres — MD
Anderson and Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Centres. “What we need is to use the public-private partnership
module to ensure better access to cancer care. The government should ensure that every 100-bedded hospital in the
rural sector and every 300-bedded hospital in urban areas should have a cancer detection and treatment centre.”

MORE THAN RADIATION:

Cancer treatment in India is unfortunately equated to radiation therapy. Many hospitals needlessly waste crores of
rupees buying radiation equipment. “It would be better if a few hospitals came together to share a radiation centre.
Four to five centres could share the cost of the Rs 30-crore device,” suggests Dr Jagannath.

TELL THE DOCS:

Some experts criticise the need for a super-specialty in oncology. All doctors should be taught about cancer detection
and surgery. This will help in wider and earlier detection even in remote centres.

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