development in
making the cancer
biopsy procedures
lesser and lesser
invasive as well as
easier for future
references. Helps
in monitoring the
disease for any signs of
remission post-surgery
or other treatment
modalities as well.
Liquid Biopsies
have been able to
considerably reduce
the agony of oncology
sample collection both
for the patients as well
as the clinicians.
Challenges in making
available the best
drugs in country
Drug development is
a complex and lengthy
process that requires
huge investment
of resources and
time. The levels and
the phases of drug
approval is a time-
consuming process
which impacts the
development and
availability of these
new drugs. A more
focused concerted
effort from the
regulators and the
government can
address the availability
and access concerns of
the Indian patients.
The unawareness
about risk factors,
need for consulting the
relevant specialists,
advanced treatment
modalities etc are
still a concern. People
need to be educated
on the importance
of healthy lifestyle,
early diagnosis, and
common symptoms of
cancer. Prevention or
early detection are a
definite welcome than
a late realization.
There is an urgent
need of fast track
approvals and
standardization of
drug quality in the
country. A favorable
consideration on the
patent protection,
safety net to
researchers and
industry partners to
prevent legal battles
between local firms,
MNCs and civil rights
groups is required.
Better coordination,
accountability and
transparency in
functioning among
different ministries
and bodies concerned
with drug regulation
will help get the
process streamlined.
Unfavorable revisions
of regulations in local
clinical trials of drugs
in India will cause
delay in getting much
needed drugs at faster
pace.
The growing need
to establish greater
value in health care
combined with a
projected shortage
of workforce among
clinical oncologists
and nurses by 2020,
suggests that cancer
prevention efforts will
need to be specifically
targeted towards
improving healthcare
outcomes reducing
BIOVOICENEWS.COM
27