What is the Cancer Moonshot Initiative, that Quad grouping gave nod to?

The Quad grouping Saturday took a groundbreaking cancer initiative global.

Called the Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative, the countries — India, United States, Australia and Japan — launched the programme that will focus on expanding cervical cancer screening; increasing vaccinations against the human papillomavirus, or HPV, a common sexually transmitted infection that is the primary cause of cervical cancer; and treating patients.

The Initiative, announced by US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders Summit, will begin by catering to cases of cervical cancer, which, according to a statement by the White House, is “a largely preventable disease that continues to be a major health crisis in the Indo-Pacific region”, besides laying the groundwork for other forms of cancer.

Aimed at implementing innovative strategies to prevent, detect, treat and alleviate the impact of cancer on patients and their families, the Quad initiative will work to promote human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, increase access to screenings, and expand treatment options and care in underserved areas.

India’s contribution to the Cancer Moonshot Initiative

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion, announced that India is working on an AI based treatment protocol for the disease, while appreciating Biden’s thoughtful program, that would “go a long way in providing affordable, accessible and quality health-care to people in Indo-Pacific countries”.

As India’s contribution to the initiative, PM Modi dedicated a “grant of US $7.5 million to cancer testing, screening, and diagnostics in the Indo-Pacific region”, according to a release by the Ministry of External Affairs.

According to the MEA statement, Modi also announced that India will provide support for radiotherapy treatment and capacity building for cancer prevention in the Indo-Pacific. He also said that Indo-Pacific countries will be benefiting from the supply of 40 million doses of vaccine from India under GAVI and QUAD programs.

India will, additionally, offer technical assistance to interested countries in the Indo-Pacific region on DPI for cancer screening, care and continuum through its US $10 million contribution to WHO’s-Global Initiative on Digital Health.

Cervical Cancer — 3rd leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Indo-Pacific region

Cervical cancer, which is “preventable through vaccination and usually treatable if detected early,” to be the third leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the Indo-Pacific region, the release highlighted. “Fewer than one in 10 women” in the Indo-Pacific have completed their HPV vaccination series, and “fewer than 10%” have undergone recent screening.

It acknowledges the gaps in healthcare facilities, highlighting that “many countries in the region face challenges related to healthcare access, limited resources, and disparities in vaccination rates.”

The Initiative builds on the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to ending cancer. Over two years ago, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden announced the Cancer Moonshot with the aim of reducing cancer death rate in the United States by at least half—preventing more than 4 million cancer deaths—by 2047, and improving the experience of people who are touched by cancer, the statement mentioned.

Quad partners, through the Initiative, “intend to work, within respective national contexts, to collaborate in advancing research and development in the area of cancer and to increase private sector and non-governmental sector activities in support of reducing the burden of cervical cancer in the region.”

They will also “work together with United Nations agencies on bulk purchasing of HPV diagnostics to bring down the cost of cervical cancer screening, and work with the International Atomic Energy Agency to improve access to and quality of medical imaging and radiation therapy,” as per the release.

Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.