NARAYANA HEALTH LAUNCHES
RURAL CANCER SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM
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Mazumdar Shaw Medical Foundation collaborates with Narayana Health to launch the
program
Aims to bridge urban-rural healthcare divide
Bangalore, November 19, 2013: Narayana Health today announced the launch of Rural ‘Cancer
Surveillance Program’ in partnership with Mazumdar Shaw Medical Foundation. The program
launched by Dr. Devi Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Health and Dr. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw,
Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon will work towards creating awareness and conducting
preliminary screening of Head and Neck cancers in several rural pockets of Karnataka. The
foundation of the program is based on the statistics that highlights the huge urban-rural
healthcare divide that exists in our country.
The first phase of the program will be initiated
across three villages of Atebele, Anekal and
Gigini in Karnataka, which will be led by the
Department of Head and Neck Oncology at
Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Center at NH Health
City.
The focus will be to educate the
community at large about the early signs and
symptoms of mouth and throat cancer as its
prevalence in rural India is increasing owing to
the tobacco chewing habits. A dedicated van
donated by Dr. N Ravindranthan to support this
program was flagged off today at NH Health City.
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India reports the highest prevalence
of oral cancer globally with 80,000
new cases every year
Due to high prevalence, Mouth Cancer
is commonly referred as ‘Indian oral
cancer’
In India, tobacco-related cancers
account for 48% of the total cancer
cases
Early detection of cancer can increase
the survival rate up to 90%
* Source of Statistics – International Journal of
Head and Neck Surgery, January-April 2013
Commenting about the launch of the Rural
Cancer Surveillance Program, Dr. Devi Shetty,
Chairman, Narayana Health, said, “Over 70% of India’s population lives in rural India but have
access to only one-third of the hospital beds. Also, diagnosing and treating Head and Neck
cancer requires specialist doctors. Since, 80% of the specialist doctors live in urban parts of the
country catering to about 20% of the population, early diagnosis of this disease in rural India is
difficult. Thus, leading to a worrisome situation that close to 75% of cancers are diagnosed only
in its stage IV resulting in poor rate of treatment and survival. This initiative is a step towards
reaching out to the population living in villages to ensure that everyone has access to timely
diagnosis and quality healthcare.”
Narayana Health’s Rural Cancer Surveillance program will strive to remove these barriers by
reaching out to the rural community, educating the people about the early warning signs of
cancers, screening for common cancers and undertaking preventive measures.
Elaborating on the association with Narayana Health, Ms. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Mazumdar
Shaw Medical Centre, said “At the Mazumdar Shaw Medical Foundation, it’s our ongoing effort
to reach-out to patients who are affected with cancer. This association with Narayana Health
will help us to expand our reach and services to rural Indians who are in discerning need of the
treatment and medical care.”
Over 57.5% of Global Head and Neck cancers occur in Asia, especially in India. Out of all forms
of cancer, Head and Neck cancers account for 30% in India. Thus, laying highest priority on this
form of cancer could control the disease burden.
Dr. Moni Kuriakose, Head of Department – Head & Neck, Oncology, Mazumdar Shaw Cancer
Centre, said, “Awareness levels among people residing in Urban India is higher than in rural
parts and thus detection of the diseases is early unlike in rural India. However, this program
aims to bridge this gap and we aim to roll-out this by our team of doctors who will be going to
rural areas. This will facilitate early diagnosis and better outcome of the treatment among
patients in rural India.
Head and Neck cancer in India differs vastly from Western markets as it depends on factors
such as food habits, family and personal history, risk factors etc. The world’s highest incidence
of cancers is found in districts of North-east, Central and Southern India. A belt of thyroid
cancer has also been identified in women in coastal districts of Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.
About Narayana Health:
Narayana Health (formerly Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospitals) founded by Dr. Devi Shetty has 22 hospitals across 14
Indian cities with total of 6200 beds. The flagship hospital at NH Health City in Bangalore has India’s largest Bone
Marrow Transplant Unit and Dialysis unit with tertiary care expertise in Liver, Kidney and Heart transplants. The
Group has one of the largest tele-medicine networks, and has performed the highest number of heart surgeries in
the world. With health cities similar to Bangalore coming up in Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Jaipur, Narayana Health is
transforming healthcare delivery through process innovation.
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Note to the Editor:
Narayana Hrudayalaya, the nation’s pre-eminent healthcare provider has now got a new identity – Narayana
Health
From a humble beginning of a 200 beds Cardiac Hospital, we grew into a 6,200 beds multi-specialty healthcare
conglomerate in a span of 13 years, cutting across a variety of specialties, partnerships and geographies.
The thing about rapid growth is that it is usually accompanied with a host of complications. The primary one was
that of maintaining a distinctive identity. Our brand represents a singularity of purpose and commitment with
Quality, compassion and affordability being hallmarks of our brand promise. The rebranding initiative builds on all
the exceptional work we have done and the accomplishments we have achieved. It focuses and directs our future
efforts into carefully phased, definitive plan that enables us to express ourselves consistently in everything we say
and do.
It is an organizing principle that integrates our legacy, our locations, disciplines, talents and expertise – and the
human mission that binds everyone at NH. Our new tagline – ‘Health for all. All for Health’, nothing less than a
clarion call, captures the essence of our belief in the democratization of healthcare – in India and around the
world.
* Source of Statistics – International Journal of Head and Neck Surgery, January-April 2013
For further details, please contact:
Sourav – 9845012395, Juhi – 8880354348, Perfect Relations