Last week, I had the privilege of attending the UICC World Cancer Congress 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, one of the world’s premier gatherings in cancer care, research, policy and advocacy.
I was honoured to present our work on:
“Access and Affordability in Cancer Care in India: Insights from the Kerala Cancer Conclave 2025.”
For me, this was particularly special because it gave us an opportunity to take the Kerala experience and our discussions around equitable cancer care to a truly global platform.
The participation of the 11-member AMPOK delegation was a significant milestone. Kerala had three oral podium presentations and six scientific poster presentations accepted at the Congress, reflecting the growing contribution of our state to oncology practice, research and healthcare innovation.
What made the Congress even more meaningful was the opportunity to engage with leaders from organisations and institutions shaping cancer care globally, including UICC, ASCO, the National Cancer Grid, IARC, the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society, National Cancer Centres of Korea and China, MASCC, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Danish Cancer Society.
The discussions focused not merely on science, but on how we can translate global advances into meaningful improvements for patients in Kerala:
• Affordable access to cancer medicines
• International training and capacity building
• Multicentre research and clinical trials
• Patient-centred and supportive care
• Prevention, screening and early detection
• Academic and institutional collaborations
As Joint Secretary of AMPOK, it gives me immense pride to see Kerala’s oncology community represented so strongly on an international stage.
All this would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Dr Boben Thomas and Dr Uddiptya who led the delegation with aplomb
.The real value of such a meeting, however, lies in what happens after we return home. The partnerships and ideas generated in Hong Kong should ultimately translate into better care, greater access and better outcomes for our patients.
A prestigious moment for Kerala oncology, and hopefully the beginning of many more collaborations to come.
From Kerala to the world, and bringing the best of the world back to Kerala…Dr Arun Chandrashekharan..Aster Mims kozhikkode
