Call to classify cancer as a notifiable disease

Apollo Cancer Centres, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Indian Medical Association (IMA) and State Oncology Associations, launched a nationwide campaign–Unify to Notify–on World Cancer Day. The campaign urges the Government of India to classify cancer as a notifiable disease, a much-needed critical step for combating it.

Dr I Vani, president, IMA, and Dr Murali Mohan, secretary, IMA, inaugurated the nationwide campaign ‘Unify to Notify’ on World Cancer Day on February 4 (Tuesday), being hosted by Apollo Cancer Centres in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); Indian Medical Association (IMA) & State Oncology Associations, at Apollo Cancer Centres, Apollo Health City Arilova, in Visakhapatnam.

Rakesh Reddy Boya, Senior Medical and Hemato Oncologist, Jayasree, Radiation Oncologist, and Ventrapati Pradeep, Medical Oncologist, all from Apollo Cancer Centres, Visakhapatnam; V. Balakrishna, Medical Superintendent, Suman Das, Senior Radiation Oncologist, Aditya Narayan, Senior Radiation Oncologist, Dr Brahmaji Naidu, Unit Head(all from Apollo Hospitals, Visakhapatnam) participated.

The participants stressed on the importance of classifying cancer as a notifiable disease to ensure real-time data collection and accurate reporting apart from developing standardised treatment protocols through epidemiological analysis and targetted intervention strategies. It would also ensure accuracy, efficiency and accessibility of cancer treatment, they said.