Cancer Experts Urge Expanded Screening in India’s Underserved Regions
Leading paediatric oncologists and haematologists have called for a significant expansion of cancer screening programmes in India, particularly in underserved areas, to enable earlier diagnosis and improve survival rates. The appeal was made during MADHURAM 2026, the 11th edition of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) – Paediatric Haematology Oncology Chapter’s Midterm Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme, hosted by Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre (MMHRC) in Madurai.
The three-day event, held from July 17 to 19, brought together nearly 100 national and international experts and around 500 delegates, including postgraduate medical students, to discuss advances in paediatric haematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplantation.
In his address, Minister C T R. Nirmal Kumar highlighted the rising detection of cancer in India due to greater awareness and better diagnostic facilities. However, he noted that a large proportion of cancers are still diagnosed at an advanced stage, making treatment more complex and reducing survival rates. “Compared to many Western countries, we are yet to achieve widespread early detection. We need to significantly strengthen cancer screening programmes, increase public awareness, and make screening more accessible, especially in underserved regions,” he said.
MMHRC Chairman S. Gurushankar emphasised the role of doctors in healthcare, stating that a hospital’s true strength lies in the expertise and compassion of its medical professionals. Professor Kasi Viswanathan, speaking about the CME, said the primary objective was to create greater awareness among postgraduate students, community physicians, and specialists. Sessions covered advances such as molecular technologies for early and accurate diagnosis, newer targeted therapies, and innovations like CAR T-cell therapy—where a patient’s immune cells are reprogrammed to destroy cancer cells.
Other participants included Madurai Medical College former Director of Institute of Child Health and Professor Emeritus Balashankar, IAP Paediatric Haematology Oncology Chapter Chairperson Satya P Yadav, Secretary Shweta Bansal, and Medical Administrator B Kannan.
