Make cancer treatment affordable, upgrade infrastructure: Parliamentary panel

While expressing concern about 68% of cancer patients who die in the state, the standing select committee on science and technology, environment, forest and climate change recommended setting up a hub and speaking system under the tata memorial

Global: A parliamentary committee called on the government to improve the cancer treatment system and make it more affordable by extending a leading health care institution's network, as it raised concerns about nearly two-thirds of patients dying in the country. The Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forest and Climate Change presented its document on "an increased role for the Atomic Energy Department in the treatment of cancer in India through an expanded network of the Tata Memorial Center in Mumbai." The committee recommended setting up a hub and spoke model under the Tata Memorial Centre, the pioneer in cancer treatment and funded by the Atomic Energy Department. The Committee recommended wider adoption of the Tata Memorial Center (TMC) proposed template' Hub and Spoke' across the country. Tata Memorial Center indicated that traditional and less complex cancer care facilities should be provided near the homes (spoke) of patients in order to create minimal disruption in their and their families ' lives. The Committee expressed concern over 68% of cancer patients who die in the country and urged the government to extend and improve the cancer treatment system for accessible and quality care by increasing the Tata Memorial Centre's network.

According to BlueWeave Consulting, an increase in the prevalence of cancer, an increase in collaboration between pharmaceuticals players and a rise in cancer research are the main factors that increase the demand of the cancer therapy market. Similar services have also been introduced by leading pharmaceutical players, such as Pfizer and Eli lily, to support uninsured patients with chronic diseases. Therefore, a large number of cancer-affected uninsured patients can also undergo cancer treatments that are likely to increase market growth. Thanks to its sensitivity against cancer cells, targeted therapy is gaining popularity while at the same time reducing toxicity to off-target cells. The target treatment comprises hormone therapies, modulators of gene expression, inducers of apoptosis, inhibitors of angiogenesis, immunotherapies, inhibitors of signal transduction, and molecules of toxin supply. The increase in demand for regenerative medicine and the huge potential of developing countries is anticipated to provide the market players with new opportunities in the future.