Apollo Cancer Centres, Madurai in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Indian Association of Surgical Oncology, and Madurai Onco Society, launches a nationwide campaign “Unify to Notify” on World Cancer Day 2025. The campaign urges the Government of India to classify cancer as a notifiable disease, a much-needed critical step for combating the menace of the disease.
Apollo Cancer Centres, Madurai, has been a trusted healthcare provider for over three decades, offering advanced, 360-degree comprehensive cancer care. With a network of over 390 oncologists across India, Apollo delivers high-end precision oncology therapy through expert Cancer Management Teams. Its state-of-the-art technology and organ-based practice ensure world-class treatment and international clinical outcomes. Patients from 147 countries seek care at Apollo, home to South Asia & the Middle East’s first Pencil Beam Proton Therapy Centre. Committed to transforming lives, Apollo Cancer Centres continue to lead the fight against cancer with excellence, innovation, and patient-centric care.
Mr.P.Neelakannan, COO, Apollo Hospitals, ROTN, said, "India currently reports over 14 lakh new cancer cases annually, with this number projected to rise to 15.7 lakh by 2025. Designating cancer as a notifiable disease will be a crucial step in ensuring real-time data collection and accurate reporting, providing a clearer picture of the disease’s scale. It will also enable the development of standardized treatment protocols through epidemiological analysis and targeted intervention strategies. Moreover, this move will enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of cancer treatment, ultimately strengthening India’s role in global oncology research and care. In 2022, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare submitted a report to the Rajya Sabha recommending that cancer be classified as a notifiable disease. Through this initiative, we, along with industry experts, hope that the Government of India takes the next logical steppassing this Bill in both the Upper and Lower Houses in the upcoming budget session.".
Dr.K.Praveen Rajan, Joint Director of Medical Services, Apollo Speciality Hospitals, Madurai, said, “Making cancer a notifiable disease is a transformative step that will revolutionize how we approach cancer care in India. With proper documentation of every cancer case, we can better understand patterns, allocate resources efficiently, and develop targeted treatment protocols.”
Medical Oncologists Dr.P.K.Muthu Kumaraswamy, Dr.J.Devanand, Dr.T.Deenadayalan, Surgical Oncologists Dr.T.K.Sarpparajan, Dr.K.Balu Mahendra, Radiation Oncologist Dr.G.Sathish Srinivasan, Apollo Cancer Centres, Madurai, said, “At Apollo Cancer Centres, we have already established a robust cancer registry, which has enabled us to track cancer trends and outcomes. We are now seeking the invaluable support of industry experts and urge the Government of India to pass this Bill in both the Upper and Lower Houses, to enable better cancer care and research across India.”
Dr.J.Jebasingh, Vice President, Indian Medical Association (IMA), Madurai, said, "The IMA stands firmly with this initiative to make cancer a notifiable disease. This step will bridge the current gaps in our cancer surveillance system and enable better coordination between various healthcare providers. Apollo Cancer Centres has been at the forefront of providing comprehensive cancer care, and we believe that the notification of cancer will enable all of us to further enhance the services towards better cancer care. By making cancer a notifiable disease, we can ensure that all cancer cases are reported and documented, enabling us to track cancer incidence, mortality, and survival rates."
Dr.Ramesh, President, Madurai Onco Society, said, "Making cancer notifiable will revolutionize our understanding of cancer patterns at the state level. It will help us identify regional variations in cancer types and risk factors, leading to more targeted prevention programs. Apollo Cancer Centres has established a network of cancer centres across the country, which will play a critical role in collecting and analysing cancer data at the state level. By analyzing cancer data at the state level, we can identify areas with high cancer incidence and develop targeted interventions to address these disparities."
Dr.Mohan Prasad, Past President, Indian Association of Surgical Oncology, said, "The IASO supports the notification of cancer as it will provide us with crucial epidemiological data needed for evidence-based policy-making. Our current estimates of cancer burden in India are based on limited data. Mandatory reporting will give us accurate insights into cancer patterns, helping us design better prevention strategies and allocate research funding more effectively.”
The ‘Unify to Notify’ campaign represents a yeoman step towards transforming cancer care in India and identifying cancer as a notifiable disease, where every cancer case counts, every patient matters, and no data point is lost in the journey towards better cancer care in India.
While 15 states, including Haryana, Karnataka, Tripura, West Bengal, Punjab, Mizoram, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, and Rajasthan, have already made cancer a notifiable disease, nationwide implementation remains a necessity. Globally, over 12 countries including the US, England and Wales, Scotland, Denmark, Nordic countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and The Gambia, have recognised the importance of mandatory cancer reporting.
The press conference was graced by the presence of Apollo Hospitals, Madurai Cluster COO Mr.P.Neelakannan, Joint Director of Medical Services Dr.K.Praveen Rajan, Medical Oncologists Dr.P.K.Muthu Kumaraswamy, Dr.J.Devanand, Dr.T.Deenadayalan, Surgical Oncologists Dr.T.K.Sarpparajan, Dr.K.Balu Mahendra, Radiation Oncologist Dr.G.Sathish Srinivasan, and Marketing Division General Manager Mr.K.Manikandan, and Oncology SLM Mr.J.Prem Danniel.