India's President, Droupadi Murmu recently addressed the inauguration of the 300-bed KLE Dr. Sampatkumar S. Shivanagi Cancer Hospital in Belagavi. She urged the nation to shift from traditional mindsets to address women's health issues, particularly cancer care.
She highlighted the importance of timely diagnoses and treatments, especially in cases of cancer, and the need for families and society to play a larger role in addressing health issues. She further emphasized the need for healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care, raise awareness about early diagnosis and treatment options, and be kind-hearted and empathetic.
The President mentioned "Women often do not have timely diagnoses due to the traditional mindset of their families, leading to cancer. Families and society can play a bigger role in addressing health issues among women." She said, "In many cases, either due to ignorance of the patient or financial problems, diagnosis and treatment are delayed." She emphasized the importance of prioritizing women, the need for kindness, and early diagnosis, and urged for an increase in awareness of treatment options and early detection.
President Murmu praised the KLE Society's initiative to establish a state-of-the-art cancer hospital in North Karnataka, citing a global study showing 20 million new cancer cases in 2022, with 9.7 million deaths. The ICMR study predicts a 13 per cent increase in cancer cases by 2025.
