The Role of Technology in Advancing Cancer Care in India: Harnessing Innovations for Better Outcomes
CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Mr. Manikandan Bala – Senior Vice President, TIMEA & Asia Pacific, Direct Sales Strategies & MD India & SA, Elekta
- Could you provide more details on the radiation oncology landscape in India right now?
India is experiencing a continuous increase in cancer burden, resulting in a significant rise in the number of radiation therapy facilities, particularly in urban areas. The radiation oncology landscape in India is constantly evolving and expanding, and the country requires innovative solutions to address the escalating incidence of cancer cases. However, there remains a gap in the availability of advanced technology in many regions of the country due to the concentration of these facilities in urban cities. The assessment indicates that India needs 1-2 radiotherapy equipment per million population based on cancer incidence and patient accessibility factors, higher than the WHO norm of 1 per million. There is a requirement for over 900 radiotherapy (RT) installations, but presently, India has approximately 650 RT installations.
Radiotherapy is not an individual’s task; it requires the expertise of multiple healthcare professionals with different specializations to provide the best possible care to patients. This team of professionals, collectively referred to as the radiotherapy team, typically includes radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, medical physicists, dosimetrists, nurses, and other support staff. Demand for medical physicists in India is 1.3 times the supply, medical oncologists 2.6 times, surgical oncologists 1.4 times, and radiation oncologists 1.0 times.
Therefore, it is essential to expand radiation therapy facilities and upskill and reskilling to candidates to manage the RT equipment in rural areas to ensure equitable access to cancer treatment for all patients in the country.
- What role do you envisage technology to play in the development of cancer care in India in the future? Can technology significantly contribute to the decline in the number of cancer cases and fatalities?
Technology is expected to play a crucial role in the future of cancer care in India. Advancements in technology have already improved cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care in recent years. Technology is contributing to cancer care by developing new diagnostic tools, such as the use of AI and machine learning algorithms, which help doctors analyse large amounts of data to identify patterns and predict the risk of cancer. Early detection of cancer improves the chances of successful treatment and outcomes.
Moreover, technology is making cancer treatment more precise and personalized. Advancements in genetic testing and precision medicine allow doctors to tailor treatment plans to each patient’s unique needs, leading to more effective treatment and fewer side effects. Telemedicine and remote monitoring are also making cancer care more accessible, especially in rural areas. Telemedicine allows patients to receive diagnosis and treatment remotely, which was previously limited.
Therefore, technology certainly plays a vital role in assisting medical professionals during the treatment. Technological advancements have made it possible to detect cancer at an early stage, thereby increasing the chances of successful treatment and reducing cancer-related deaths.. In India, it can certainly contribute to the fight against cancer by improving cancer care and diagnosis even in Tier 2 and 3 markets – making cancer therapy available and accessible to the masses. With continued investment in technology, we can expect to see even more advancements in cancer care in the future.
- How is precision radiation therapy different from traditional radiation therapy and how is it delivered?
Precision radiation is the evolution of conventional radiation therapy as it offers greater accuracy and targeted high radiation doses to cancer cells while limiting exposure to healthy tissues. This reduces the risk of side effects and treatment time for cancer patients.
Such technological advancements have improved the effectiveness of precision radiation therapy through adaptive therapy, which allows doctors to adjust radiation doses and treatment plans in real-time, based on the individual response of the patient. This is a significant difference from the conventional radiation therapy.
If we talk about advancements in Leniar accelerators, we have recently launched our latest offering Elekta Harmony. Elekta Harmony was built on the feedback of customers from countries like India. Today technology evolution is as important as relevance. Not all markets around the world need the same technology. In the past it was a one size fit all model, however with the evolution, we have been able to tailor solutions of relevance making it a personalised offering.
Our flagship product, Elekta Unity is an integration of a diagnostic quality MRI into a Linac. This offers several benefits, such as the ability to provide superior soft tissue contrast and better identification of the tumour and surrounding tissues, which are not possible with traditional computed tomography (CT) scans. Real-time imaging capabilities assures that the treatment is being delivered accurately.
While bringing in the technology is one aspect, effectively utilizing it is the other. We extensively run training and education programs to upskill the current workforce.
The Elekta Unity system has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment in India by improving clinical outcomes and the quality of life for cancer patients.
- What is the impact of AI and other technologies, specifically Elekta’s implementation of AI and ML, in radiation oncology in India, and how do they improve patient outcomes?
The implementation of AI and ML by Elekta in delivering cancer treatment can offer several benefits to patients. One major advantage is the ability to personalize treatment plans based on individual patient characteristics, such as tumour size, location, and response to previous treatments.
By analyzing patient data, algorithms can provide personalized treatment plans based on individual characteristics, resulting in more effective treatment and improved patient outcomes. Additionally, implementing AI and ML in treatment planning and image analysis can streamline clinical workflows and reduce administrative burdens, freeing up clinicians to focus more time and attention on patient care.
Elekta MOSAIQ, an oncology information system, has integrated AI capabilities into its software suite, Mosaiq Plaza, which can help reduce administrative burdens and streamline clinical workflows. The Elekta Care program includes remote monitoring capabilities that allow technicians to monitor equipment performance in real-time from remote locations, enabling preventive maintenance to be scheduled proactively, minimizing the risk of unexpected downtime and ensuring that equipment remains in optimal working condition.
Kaiku Health, a digital therapeutics company by Elekta, utilizes technology to provide personalized symptom monitoring and management for cancer patients. By collecting and analyzing patient-reported data, Kaiku Health can identify patterns and predict outcomes, providing personalized support and improved quality of life for patients throughout different phases of therapy. Its algorithms screen symptoms, notify care teams, and provide personalized support for patients, reducing uncertainty around symptoms and improving symptom management for care teams. Overall, implementing AI and ML in radiation oncology can improve patient outcomes, streamline workflows, and provide personalized care for cancer patients in India.
- Could you briefly describe some of the steps Elekta has taken to improve the cancer care ecosystem in India and how these actions have impacted the sector?
Elekta has taken several steps to improve the cancer care ecosystem in India, including:
- Implementing a hub and spoke model to provide specialized services to patients in rural areas
- Developing a remote support system to ensure effective linear accelerator services
- Launching educational training courses to enhance the skills of the radiotherapy community
- Collaborating with institutions, such as HCG, to support their hub-and-spoke model of comprehensive cancer centres distributed over many hundreds of miles in India, allowing patients greater cancer care access closer to home
- Providing Elekta’s flagship software to Anna University’s Medical Physics Training Centre to provide training on the latest treatment techniques and technological advancements to radiation oncologists, radiotherapy technologists, and medical physicists
- Inaugurating the first Elekta Harmony Linac in India at Indore, which is the most versatile linac ever made by Elekta and was built on the feedback of clinicians from countries like India.
Elekta’s efforts have improved the quality of care available to cancer patients in India, addressing some of the major challenges faced by the cancer care ecosystem in the country.
