‘Oncology is the new Cardiology in India’

‘Oncology is the new Cardiology in India’

India has a success history in cardiology so far. Oncology care is still finding its strong place in Indian healthcare systems. Aiming to bring more access to cancer care facilities in India at affordable prices, three healthcare giants – GE Healthcare India, known for offering advanced technology at affordable prices; Cancer Treatment Services International (CTSI), a provider of comprehensive treatment for cancer patients with a focus on medical oncology and radiation oncology; and Max Healthcare, one of India’s leading medical service providers — have joined hands.

Along with signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU), GE Healthcare India has also launched its latest PET/CT named Discovery IQ, which promises 40 per cent more affordability than current PET/CTs. The strategic partnership is to develop 25 world-class centres across India to improve access to cancer care. The network will be built at an investment of $120 million (Rs 720 crore) over a period of five years. The centres will offer latest technology for diagnosing and treating cancer and will follow the same standards of care found at the world’s top cancer hospitals delivered at affordable price points.

The partnership underscores four critical points to elevate the access, affordability and standard of cancer care in India. First, modern management of oncology patients requires a multidisciplinary approach, meaning that delivering cancer care according to top world standards demands interplay between a team of personnel from a wide range of medical specialties. Second, offering world-class cancer care requires adherence to well-defined, evidence-based medical protocols derived from the world’s latest medical research. Third, providing the latest therapeutic options for cancer requires expert use of cutting-edge imaging, treatment and digital record-keeping technologies. Finally, reducing patient effort and spend through a comprehensive and transparent approach in a local, patient friendly environment.

Strategic Steps for Fulfilment of a Cause

“We have a stronger motivation to build a healthier India. We are working towards bringing the more access, the affordability with standardised product quality to men. A part of that includes designing and development of the technology and working with the providers of technology services for amplification of the mission,” says Terri Bresenham, President and CEO of GE Healthcare South Asia.

GE and CTSI will configure the network in a hub-and-spoke fashion, with all centres linked by a sophisticated IT network to a hub and supported by a multi-national group of clinicians and administrators. The hub will be a centre of excellence with full diagnostic imaging and treatment capabilities while the spoke will have the ability to deliver a range of screening, staging and treatment options. The centres will use globally proven clinical pathways and protocols to standardize the care for every patient. The first hub centre, American Oncology Institute, CTSI’s international brand, is already operational in Hyderabad. The first spoke or remote centre is being set up in Andhra Pradesh. “Our protocol would be to expand the reach within India in the underserved cancer care market. That includes early detection of cancer, bringing down the cost of cancer to population that involves us to go a step farther to tier II and tier III cities, where there are no facilities or infrastructure available. If the patient gets the facility at his home town, it will lower his costs for treatment as 50 per cent of the costs borne by a patient is due to travel to metro cities,” explains Joe Nicholas, President and CEO, CTSI.

For Dr Ajay Bakshi, MD and CEO of Max Healthcare, society has become much more optimistic towards surviving cancer. “Nowadays, a lot more people are surviving cancer. Initially cancer used to mean death sentences, which no longer holds true. Society has become much more optimistic. We as a provider of healthcare working with the technology champion to bring the better solution at the economic significance ensures that,” he says.