Renowned for his expertise as an Oncology surgeon committed to mitigating and addressing the inaccessibility of oncology care and treatment in underserved outreach regions, Dr Debashish Chaudhary, Senior Consultant & Clinical LEAD-Surgical Oncology, Narayana Health, Gurugram, candidly shares his views showing the way forward.
Dr. Debashish Chaudhary, Senior Consultant & Clinical Lead - Surgical Oncology & Robotic Surgery
What are the existing woes of oncology gap in outreach and far of regions of India?
India’s healthcare system reveals a significant disparity between metropolitan areas and smaller cities or rural towns. The concentration of highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals and state-of-the-art facilities are limited to metropolitan regions, which makes access to the abundant options available for treatment relatively much easier and more efficient. However, the situation is starkly different in smaller towns and rural areas, where a lack of medical resources and expertise creates a considerable treatment gap. While efforts to address this gap are underway, many patients still travel to larger cities in search of better care, a journey that often comes with both financial and logistical burdens.
This disparity is particularly pronounced in oncology, where patients require multidisciplinary care and long-term treatment. The need for continuous, specialized treatment for cancer often forces individuals to commute long distances, which not only affects their health but also adds, physical, emotional and financial stress. Although the gap in cancer care is slowly closing, especially with increased investment in both the public and private sectors, access to oncology care in smaller cities remains a challenge.
What are the measures that can be taken to reduce this regional disparity in oncology intervention and care?
To bridge this divide, simple yet effective solutions can make a significant difference. Raising public awareness about cancer prevention and early detection, implementing community screening programs, and expanding tele-oncology services can help mitigate some of the current gaps in care. Ultimately, the first step toward addressing any healthcare problem is identifying the issue—in oncology, that starts with timely diagnosis and prompt treatment.
As oncologists, we believe in bringing care directly to those in need. To this end, we conduct weekly outreach OPDs in remote locations like Bijnor, Muzaffarnagar, Bulandshahr, Rewari, Panipat, and Srinagar, providing consultations, diagnoses, and treatment plans right at patients’ doorsteps. This approach empowers patients and their families to make informed decisions about their care, without the added burden of travel and other associated inconveniences.
How is evolving technology advancements proving to be a boon in cancer treatment and surgeries in terms of patient coverage and outcomes?
Innovations like precision medicine, robotic-assisted surgery, and minimally invasive techniques enable highly accurate, less invasive procedures with faster recovery times. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing care by analysing vast datasets to personalize treatment plans, predict outcomes, and assist in diagnosis. Telemedicine services, including telepathology, teleradiology, and the tele-ICU, are increasingly reaching rural and underserved areas, helping bridge the healthcare gap. Scope of telemedicine services is somewhat limited in delivery of advanced surgical procedures even in a robotic surgery, since it is controlled remotely and will need an on-spot surgical expertise, to take control, in case of troubleshooting. A potential solution is the development of hybrid models that combine remote guidance with local medical teams on the ground, ensuring timely intervention and expert support during critical procedures.
How are the initiatives by Narayana Healthcare helping to reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality caused by cancer in patients living in underserved regions?
We are grateful for the ready support of Narayana Healthcare, Gurugram, which has been instrumental in helping us extend our reach to underserved areas ranging from screening, treatment, health camps, outreach OPD’s and tele-consultation. Through continued efforts like these, we hope to narrow the cancer care gap and ensure that quality oncology services are accessible to every patient, regardless of where they live or the economic strata that they belong to. With increasing numbers of committed oncologists there is hope at the end of the rainbow.