ICMR includes Puducherry for its nation-wide study to enhance availability of assistive technologies
The ICMR would carry out the survey in Puducherry in collaboration with the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research. The study was aimed to provide crucial insights for the development of evidence-based policies to enhance the availability of assistive technologies and improve the quality of life of individuals in need, an official release here said.
J. Venkatachalam, additional professor, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jipmer would lead the survey team in Puducherry. The other members of the team would include field researchers for undertaking door-to-door visit to gather data. The survey would be done using rATA (Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment) tool in 21 wards of Oulgaret Municipality, the release said.
As part of the collaboration with Puducherry government, a team from ICMR on Friday met the Director of Department of Health V. Ravichandran to discuss the modalities of carrying out the survey. The ANMs and ASHA workers of the respective Public Health Centres in Oulgaret would facilitate data collection and ensure public participation. Residents in the region are also encouraged to actively participate in the survey, the release said.
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ICMR study finds shortfall in radiotherapy utilisation across all cancer types
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News18
7 hours ago
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The study also recommended that India would require 1,585 to 2,545 machines, which may increase to a range of 2,016 to 2,291 external beam radiotherapy machines if the assumptions from previous benchmark studies are followed. The burden of four cancer sites — breast, head and neck, lung and cervical cancer — constitutes around 60 per cent of the total radiotherapy requirement for cancer care in India, the study said. This points towards an increasing demand for radiotherapy in the coming years as there is expected to be a 70-100 per cent increase in breast, head and neck and lung cancer in low and middle income countries (LMIC). Radiotherapy utilisation of most cancer sites is lower compared to optimal radiotherapy utilisation. Among the major indicated cancer sites, the deficit is more prominent in lymphoma and lung cancer (relative deficit of more than 70 per cent), followed by prostate, breast and oesophagus, it said. The study mentioned that India accounts for 7 per cent of global cancer incidence, ranking third after China and the USA. By the end of 2025, the incidence of cancer in India is projected to reach 1.57 million cases, posing a significant public health challenge. As the fifth leading cause of death in the country, cancer demands urgent attention to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment, it said. Radiotherapy, a cornerstone of cancer treatment, plays a crucial role in controlling tumour growth, reducing tumour size pre-surgery, and alleviating pain in advanced stages. However, its availability in low and middle-income countries like India remains insufficient due to high setup and operational costs, creating a significant gap between demand and resources. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum of one radiotherapy machine (external radiotherapy machine) per million population, with an optimal target of four per million, the study stated. 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PTI PLB KSS KSS view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 18:15 IST News agency-feeds ICMR recommends interventions to meet gap in machines needed for cancer care Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
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