On July 8, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released its Global Status Report on Cancer. The figures are staggering: An estimated 20.6 million new cancer cases and nearly 10 million deaths worldwide each year, that is, more than 26,000 lives lost each day. At current rates, the WHO predicts 35 million annual cases by 2050.

In addition to the scale of the disease, the report highlights an inherent inequity. A woman with breast cancer in a high-income country has an 87 per cent chance of surviving five years, compared to about 42 per cent in a low-income country, a gap that is less due to biology and more due to where she happens to live. While 68 to 94 per cent of wealthier countries have access to the top 20 priority cancer medicines, only 9 to 54 per cent of low- and lower-middle-income countries do.

India’s own numbers fit into this picture, albeit not comfortably. With an estimated 15.33 lakh new cases expected in 2024, a Rajya Sabha standing committee noted that roughly one in nine Indians faces a lifetime risk of cancer. The committee has also sought expert recommendations to improve the affordability of cancer care and expand access........

© Indian Express