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OVERVIEW knowledge partners for similar initiative entities. A
comprehensive sourcing strategy has also been
With over 1.4 million new reported cases of cancer every developed to recruit and train medical professionals
year, India has an increasing burden of cancer. Most of doctors, nurses, and technicians. Fellowships and
these cases are reported in later stages of the disease, certificate programmes have been started to upskill
leading to a high mortality rate of about 50%. This and cross-skill these professionals.
problem of high incidence and delayed detection
is aggravated by: • The A ordability pillar has been
deployed to make central and
• Poor infrastructure and low availability of skilled state government insurance
medical expertise to treat the disease. schemes available at all
network cancer care health
• Existing cancer care facilities being concentrated in establishments. Bulk buying
metros and tier-1 cities, resulting in patients having to of state-of-the-art cancer
travel long distances to seek treatment and care. This care diagnostic and treatment
leads to high out-of-pocket expenses and consequently, equipment and centralised rate
high dropout rates along the treatment pathway. contract pharmacy services have
further reduced costs.
• Increasing adoption and spread of unhealthy
lifestyle habits. • The Quality pillar ensures
standardised guidelines
• Lack of awareness related to benefits of early detection. are available and practiced
for diagnosis and treatment.
The novel “Distributed Model of Cancer Care,” has been All the centres will be guided
implemented under the Cancer Care Programme of by National Cancer Grid
Tata Trusts to provide cancer patients and their (NCG) treatment guideline protocol, and are networked
caregivers better access to quality and a ordable care via digital technology for virtual tumour boards,
that is closer to their homes, and to reverse the early to telemedicine consults, etc.
late detection ratio of cancer from 30:70 to 70:30. The
model follows a four-pronged approach. • The Early Detection pillar works to reverse the early
to late detection ratio of cancer. Multi-pronged
• The Access pillar of the model focuses on making approaches have been adopted to enhance awareness,
quality infrastructure and medical professionals cancer screening, and to discourage tobacco and
available closer to patients’ homes. A step-down model alcohol consumption—a major risk factor for many
of infrastructure has been put in place, under which cancers. Palliative care is being made available
Apex Centres, Comprehensive Cancer Care for improving quality of life of cancer patients and
Hospitals, and Day Care Centres are being their caregivers.
developed. Varied approaches have been
adopted to ensure the successful operation of
these units. These include direct operations,
build and handover, and the units acting as
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