Treatment for any type of cancer is now available under Union Government’s Ayushman Bharat public health insurance scheme, according to Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, a renowned medical professional and Diabetologist.
He emphasised that early detection holds the key to controlling Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and various lifestyle disorders, as well as curing several types of cancer, including breast cancer.
During ‘The Week Connect’ event on ‘Expanding Breast Cancer Care for Indian Women’ on Saturday, Dr Jitendra Singh praised ‘The Week’ for its HEALTH supplement, which has been in circulation for over 15 years, in line with the Malayala Manorama Group’s tradition and legacy.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on health, youth and women is the best bet to tackle breast cancer, one of the commonest malignancies among women worldwide and also in India,” the BJP Minister said.
Advancements in breast cancer research have led to a better understanding of its molecular landscape and tumour heterogeneity. “Sequencing efforts, for example, have helped explain the primary driver genes involved in breast cancer,” he said.
Dr Jitendra Singh mentioned the significant contribution of CSIR labs under the Ministry of Science and Technology in India’s cancer research efforts. He also highlighted the role of the Central Drug Research Institute in Lucknow, which is leading the way in developing High-Value Generic drugs for cancer treatment.
“Moreover, the Central Drug Research Institute in Lucknow is leading the way in developing High-Value Generic drugs through non-infringing and cost-effective synthetic route, designing and synthesising of New Chemical Entities against clinically validated cancer drug targets, preclinical evaluation of potent anti-cancer entities, among other activities,” Dr Singh explained.
Quoting statistics, Dr Singh pointed out that 37.2% of women in India died from breast cancer in 2020, compared to the Asian rate of 34% and the global average of 30%. He attributed the high mortality rates to late diagnosis, primarily due to a lack of awareness and the absence of screening for at-risk populations.
Despite the concerning figures, the Minister expressed hope, stating that breast cancer is highly preventable and curable, with higher chances of effective treatment and survival when detected early. He highlighted exciting developments in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, leading to fewer complications and side effects, thus improving the lives of patients.
“The research has yielded a number of exciting developments in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment that ensure fewer complications, and fewer side effects and improve the lives of breast cancer patients for the years to come,” the Minister said.
Dr Jitendra Singh commended the availability of new oral therapies, such as the CDK4/6 Inhibitors, which are used to treat hormone-positive Metastatic Breast Cancer. Indian companies like Cipla have introduced a generic version of Palbociclib, a CDK4/6 Inhibitor, at an affordable cost of less than ₹5,000 per month, making it accessible to a larger number of patients.
Supporting the idea of establishing special breast cancer clinics across the country similar to wellness centres, the Minister praised Ayushman Bharat as the world’s best health insurance scheme and credited PM Modi for conceptualising the program.
Notably, Ayushman Bharat is ‘possibly the only health insurance scheme’ that allows individuals to seek insurance coverage even for pre-existing diseases like breast cancer, ensuring financial support for treatment.
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