Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Health Minister Veena George announced new advancements in cancer treatment, including the introduction of robotic surgery at government-run cancer centres. The Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in Thiruvananthapuram and the Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC) in Thalassery have launched state-of-the-art facilities, making Kerala the first state to introduce robotic surgery in the government healthcare sector.
- Cancer Grid for Better Coordination
George also highlighted the state’s Cancer Grid system, which aims to streamline cancer care across Kerala. As part of the Nava Kerala Action Plan-2 Aardram Mission, this initiative connects three major cancer centres, cancer treatment units in medical colleges, and district hospitals. The Cancer Grid is designed to ensure seamless coordination between cancer patients, diagnostic labs, and treatment facilities, improving accessibility and efficiency in cancer care.
- Affordable Cancer Medicines through Karunya Sparsham
The state government is also making cancer medicines more affordable through the Karunya Sparsham–Zero Profit Anti-Cancer Drugs scheme. The initiative offers expensive cancer medicines at company prices through select Karunya pharmacies across Kerala.
Under this scheme, medicines worth Rs 2.5 crore were distributed within five months, with discounts reaching up to 88% compared to market rates. The initiative ensures that patients receive these medicines at zero profit, making treatments significantly more accessible.
The first phase of the initiative saw dedicated counters set up in all 14 districts, and efforts are underway to expand the service further. The state has also doubled its allocation for cancer drugs in recent years. In 2024-25 alone, Rs 27.43 crore worth of cancer medicines were supplied to medical colleges, district general hospitals, and other cancer treatment centres through the Kerala Medical Services Corporation.
- Mass Cancer Screening Drive Underway
Kerala has also launched a public cancer screening campaign, ‘Arogyam Ananda–Akattam Arbudam’, which has already screened 12 lakh people in its first month. The initial phase of the campaign focused on women above 30 years, with around 45,000 individuals referred for further diagnostic tests.
The government’s multi-pronged approach—advanced robotic surgery, better coordination through the Cancer Grid, affordable medicines, and large-scale screening—aims to strengthen Kerala’s fight against cancer and provide accessible, high-quality care to all patients.
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