Global Cancer Crisis: 20.6M New Cases Annually

The World Health Organization's Global Status Report on Cancer, released on July 8, paints a grim picture of the disease worldwide. An estimated 20.6 million new cancer cases and nearly 10 million deaths are recorded annually, with projections reaching 35 million cases by 2050 if current trends continue. This report also underscores a stark inequity in cancer care, where survival rates and access to essential medicines significantly differ based on a patient's country of residence.

India's cancer burden is substantial, with an expected 15.33 lakh new cases in 2024. A Rajya Sabha committee noted a lifetime cancer risk of one in nine Indians and is seeking expert advice to improve affordability and access to diagnostics. Breast cancer alone accounted for over 1.92 lakh new cases and 98,000 deaths in India in 2022, with many detected at advanced stages.

The disparity in treatment access raises constitutional questions in India, particularly regarding the right to health. The prohibitive cost of essential medicines and treatments challenges the state's duty to ensure affordable medical care. Legal battles over compulsory licensing for patented drugs, like the Ribociclib case, highlight delays and the human cost of inaccessible treatments.

Despite India's patent regime aligning with international standards, only one compulsory license has been issued since 2001 for the cancer drug Nexavar. The Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health emphasizes that intellectual property protection should not compromise public health. While the tools to address the crisis exist, the political will to implement them remains uncertain, even as the WHO declares it a global emergency.