Navi Mumbai: On World Cancer Day, Apollo Cancer Centres launched the ‘Unify to Notify’ campaign, calling on the Government of India to classify cancer as a notifiable disease. The move aims to improve cancer data collection, enhance treatment protocols, and strengthen India’s global standing in oncology research.

India records over 1.4 million new cancer cases annually, with projections expected to reach 1.57 million by 2025. Despite these rising numbers, there is no mandatory system for tracking cases nationwide. Declaring cancer a notifiable disease would ensure real-time data collection, enable the development of standardized treatment strategies, and improve overall accessibility and efficiency in cancer care.

In 2022, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare recommended that cancer be made a notifiable disease. Medical experts and industry leaders are now urging the Government of India to pass the necessary Bill in both the Upper and Lower Houses during the upcoming budget session.

Dr. Ghanshyam Dulera, President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Navi Mumbai, said, “India risks becoming the cancer capital of the world, with an increasing number of cases among younger populations.” He emphasized the need for stronger efforts from healthcare providers.

Dr. Anil D’Cruz, Director of Oncology at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, explained that making cancer a notifiable disease would improve understanding of cancer patterns at the state level, help identify regional variations, and allow for more targeted prevention programs. He highlighted Apollo Cancer Centres’ role in gathering and analyzing cancer data to address disparities in cancer incidence.

“If it becomes a notified disease, it would be easier for research programs to identify the pockets that are vulnerable to a particular type of cancer and prevention and early detection steps could be then planned for the other citizens,” Dr D’Cruz added.

Arunesh Punetha, Regional CEO (Western Region), Apollo Hospitals, stressed that proper documentation of cancer cases would help track trends, allocate resources efficiently, and develop targeted treatment protocols. He urged the government to pass the Bill to enhance cancer care and research nationwide.

Currently, 15 Indian states, including Haryana, Karnataka, West Bengal, Punjab, Gujarat, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, have already classified cancer as a notifiable disease, but nationwide implementation remains pending. Internationally, over 12 countries, including the United States, UK, Canada, Australia, and Israel, have recognized the importance of mandatory cancer reporting. Tripura in North East was the first state to make it notifiable disease.

“The ‘Unify to Notify’ campaign represents a critical step toward improving cancer care in India, ensuring that every case is recorded, every patient matters, and no data is lost in the effort to combat the disease,” Unit head of Apollo Hospitals, Dr Kiran Shingote, said.

While speaking of prevention of cancer, the doctors emphasized on the importance of quitting alcohol and tobacco. And the one’s whose family history has cancer and are tobacco consumers, should regularly undergo cancer screenings.