AP: Serum Institute launches nationwide HPV-Cancer public awareness campaign
Visakhapatnam, June 13 (UNI) : The 'Conquer HPV & Cancer Conclave 2025' was launched here on Friday as part of a nationwide public health initiative by Pune-based Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, part of Cyrus Poonawalla Group is a global leader in vaccine manufacturing.
India continues to face a significant burden of HPV-related diseases, particularly cervical cancer, which remains the second most common cancer among women in the country.
According to the ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer (2023), India reports over 1.23 lakh new cervical cancer cases and more than 77,000 related deaths annually.
Apart from this up to 90 percent of anal cancers & 63 percent of penile cancers are associated with HPV.
At the Visakhapatnam event, a panel of medical specialists engaged in an in-depth discussion about the public health implications of HPV.
The panel included Dr. Sunanda Rani Gutta – Director & Chief Consultant Gynaecologist, Nikitha Hospital, Visakhapatnam; Dr. Redla Vidya Rama – Prof. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Andhra Medical College and King George Hospital; Dr. Sai Sunil Kishore Manem – Chief Neonatologist, Medicover Hospital, Vizag. Associate Professor MIMS Medical College, Vizianagaram and Dr. Buddha Murali Santosh – MBBS, DNB, fellowship in Neonatology. Gold medalist. Neonatologist and Pediatrician at Motherly Women and Children Hospital, Vizag
The session was moderated by Dr. Vani Isukapalli – Superintendent, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam. President-IMA, Visakhapatnam.
Together, they highlighted the pressing need for awareness, the importance of reaching both adolescents and parents, and the role of healthcare providers in guiding preventive care.
The speakers emphasized that HPV is not limited to cervical cancer alone. It is also associated with cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus, penis, and oropharynx, affecting both men and women.
With peak HPV infection occurring between ages 15 to 25, early awareness and timely preventive action are essential. With an affordable HPV vaccine now available, it has become still more easier to protect every individual from HPV associated cancers.
'Through these conclaves held across the country, we aim to increase understanding of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and its link to cervical and other cancers,' said Parag Deshmukh, Executive Director, Serum Institute of India.
'By bringing together medical experts, healthcare workers, and community members, the forum encourages open dialogue and practical steps toward early detection and prevention,' he said.
The Visakhapatnam conclave concluded with an open dialogue involving audience members, reinforcing the broader goal of the campaign: to reduce the burden of preventable cancers through informed decision-making and community engagement. The initiative will continue in cities across the country in the coming months, creating platforms for credible voices in healthcare to educate and empower the public.
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In recent years, healthcare companies and hospitals in India have been increasingly focussing on acquiring buildings and properties to expand their operations and strengthen their market presence. This trend is driven by the rising demand for quality healthcare services in urban and semi-urban areas, fuelled by a growing population, increasing health awareness and better insurance coverage. Hunt for stressed assets In December last year, billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries acquired technology-driven and oncology-focused healthcare platform Karkinos for Rs 375 crore. Reliance bought it under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). The healthcare sector, particularly hospitals, witnessed major expansion during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, after the situation eased, it became difficult for many standalone hospitals to sustain their businesses. Such hospitals have been seeing interest from two sets of bidders — those already in the industry and seeking to expand and those who want to turn around such entities before they sell to someone else. Promoter-driven strategic investment firms and hospital operators are scouting for stressed healthcare assets that they can acquire through the insolvency and bankruptcy process, as private equity firms often edge them out in the race for good assets by offering lofty valuations. Why India's hospital sector has turned so hot Historically, the pharmaceuticals sector, including APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients), has been the investor favourite, attracting multi-billion-dollar deals. However, post-Covid, the hospital and diagnostics sector has come into the spotlight, drawing a wave of investors. The Indian hospital sector market cap surged 9x from Rs 37,500 crore in FY20 to Rs 3.5 lakh crore, brokerage firm JM Financial said last year in July. 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A total of 22,000 new beds is expected, including those by other private hospital chains. Even with these additions, there will be no over-supply of beds in India. The report said that the addition of beds is triple the number of beds added between FY19-24 at 4,000. Most hospitals are now in a consolidation phase and planning to expand and add sees growth opportunities after making profits between FY19-24 because of low capex. A World Health Organisation (WHO) report said last year that India has only 16 beds per 10,000 people, which is abysmally low if compared with most of the developed and emerging markets. India requires 100,000 additional beds in the next 5-7 years just to meet its healthcare demand on the back of increasing non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiac disorders, and cancer., as per the HSBC report. The government's push to turn India into a global healthcare hub by promoting medical tourism is another strong growth driver for the hospital sector.
