Garvita Odia
New Delhi: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on Tuesday released the “Lung Cancer Treatment and Palliation: Evidence-Based Guidelines”, marking a significant step towards standardised and patient-centric cancer care in India. The guidelines were formally unveiled at Kartavya Bhavan and aim to provide a uniform, evidence-based framework for the diagnosis, treatment and palliative care of lung cancer patients across the country. Developed by leading oncology experts and key stakeholders, the document seeks to strengthen clinical decision-making, promote best practices and reduce variations in treatment outcomes across public and private healthcare systems.
Congratulating the Department of Health Research (DHR), the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and partner institutions, Nadda described the initiative as India’s first nationally developed evidence-based cancer guideline. He said the document would play a crucial role in standardising clinical practices and ensuring high-quality, accessible and patient-centric care. The Union Health Minister further noted that evidence-based guidelines enhance the validity, credibility, and authenticity of clinical decision-making, ensuring consistent, high-quality, and patient-centric care across public and private healthcare systems. He also emphasised the need to invest in health research and strengthen capacity building.
Reaffirming the Government’s unwavering resolve, Shri Nadda stated that India’s fight against cancer will be guided by scientific rigor, compassionate care, and inclusive healthcare delivery, ensuring that no patient is left behind. He noted that the guidelines released today provide evidence-based recommendations for both treatment and palliation, enabling clinicians across the country to deliver standardized, high-quality care appropriate to the Indian context, thereby reducing variations in clinical practice and improving patient outcomes.
