Cancer medicines may get cheaper: Indian UICC president

AHMEDABAD: The treatment for cancer, which often goes on for years, drains the families of the patient mentally and takes a toll on their finances. Taking cognizance of these issues, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), an international body to collaborate global efforts against cancer, has launched the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) initiative. Prof Anil D'Cruz, UICC's first president from India, on Sunday said that India was also one of the 170-odd members of the union and will have access to cheaper medicines in near future.

Prof D'Cruz was one of the keynote speakers at the Sterling Oncology Summit that was organised on the theme of 'Multidisciplinary Approaches: Current Trends in Common Cancers' on September 24 and 25. The event witnessed participation of over 450 oncologists from across India.

Talking to TOI, Prof D'Cruz said that access to quality cancer healthcare is a global issue, and the ATOM initiative brings experts, governments, and major pharma companies on one platform. "Through the initiative, we intend to bring these medicines into WHO's list of essential drugs and make them affordable. Since India is also on the list of the countries, it would be benefited," he said.

He said that apart from conventional factors leading to cancer, lifestyle-related issues including obesity were also the other aspects that were on the rise. "According to estimates, about 10-15% of the cancers in India are caused by obesity. There is high prevalence of breast and uterine cancers among women with obesity," said Prof D'Cruz, who was senior head and neck surgeon and director at Tata Memorial Hospital.

Prof D'Cruz added India needs a robust and regular health screening plan to reduce the burden of cancer. "Even today, a majority of the patients turn up for checks at an advanced stage," he said, adding Indian researchers are making strides in the field of oncology, but there is still a long way to go before their work gets accepted globally.