Cancer care takes a hit in India, says study

This picture has been used for representational purpose

A study conducted by the Tata Memorial Hospital on the impact of Covid-19 on cancer care in India reveals a considerable reduction in new patient registrations, follow ups, radiology and pathology tests and other cancer care services in India.

Published in The Lancet, the study included data from Tata's 41 centres across India. "Reductions in volumes of cancer services were dramatic. New patient registrations fell by 54 per cent, outpatient clinic visits by 46 per cent, hospital admissions by 36 per cent, pathology by 38 per cent, radiology by 43 per cent, surgeries by 49 to 52 per cent, chemotherapy by 37 per cent, radiation by 23 per cent and palliative care by 29 per cent," said Dr CS Pramesh, director, Tata Memorial Hospital.

Dr Pramesh added that these 41 centres treat one-third of all cancer patients in India - approximately 4,50,000 new patients every year - and therefore, the study was fairly representative of what was happening across the country.

The study found that cancer screening had either completely stopped, or was down to 25 per cent in 70 per cent of these centres. Overall, reductions were far more in bigger cities than smaller ones. "The pandemic clearly forced a distributed model of cancer care in the country. We need to be able to offer quality care close to patients' homes," said Dr Pramesh.

Also Read: Mumbai: Rising mucormycosis cases in children worry medicos

It is said that these reductions in numbers reflect huge numbers of patients with cancer who have dropped off the system and will result in hundreds of thousands of cancer deaths over the next few years.

"For the general public and patients with cancer, my advice is to balance the risks of the pandemic with the benefits of accessing cancer care [and other critical healthcare], and continue getting care, with all pandemic precautions," said Dr Pramesh.

For healthcare providers, Dr Pramesh said they should continue with the care of critical non-pandemic diseases. "Let us not allow the panic of a pandemic to take a bigger toll than the pandemic itself. We should ensure that critical non-pandemic healthcare continues uninterrupted during pandemics."