Dr Jitendra Calls For Mass Public Movement Against Cancer, Diabetes, Obesity

NEW DELHI : Calling for a nationwide People’s Movement (Jan Andolan) against cancer, diabetes, obesity and other lifestyle diseases, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences; Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh on sunday said that India’s response to the growing burden of Cancer, Diabetes, obesity and other non-communicable diseases must move beyond hospitals and become a mass public movement centred on early detection, right medical advice and evidence-based healthcare.

The Minister said the country today faces not merely a lack of awareness but also the challenge of widespread health misinformation, making scientific communication and evidence-based health communication more important than ever for realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Dr. Jitendra Singh was addressing the launch of “UNBROKEN: My Battle with Cancer and the Will to Lead”, authored by Cancer survivor, eminent Scientist and former Senior Adviser, Department of Science & Technology, Dr. Akhilesh Gupta. The event was attended by eminent medical professionals, academic and scientific fraternity, senior government officials, researchers and members of the scientific community, who came together to celebrate Dr. Gupta’s remarkable journey of resilience after overcoming cancer.

Referring to India’s rapidly changing disease profile, Dr. Jitendra Singh said non-communicable diseases have emerged as one of the country’s biggest public health challenges. Cancer, diabetes, obesity, fatty liver disease and other metabolic disorders are rising across all regions and are increasingly affecting younger populations. He said several cancers are now curable or manageable if diagnosed early, making timely screening and prompt medical intervention the most effective tools for reducing mortality and improving treatment outcomes.

Expressing concern over the growing prevalence of obesity and unhealthy lifestyles, the Minister said preventive healthcare must become a national habit rather than an individual choice. He stressed that balanced nutrition, regular physical activity and periodic health check-ups should form an integral part of daily life if India is to curb the growing burden of lifestyle diseases.

Highlighting the Government’s efforts to strengthen healthcare through science and innovation, Dr. Jitendra Singh said India is increasingly developing Indian data for Indian solutions. Referring to the Genome India Programme, indigenous biotechnology innovations and affordable advanced therapies for diseases including cancer, he said the country’s scientific ecosystem is steadily delivering world-class healthcare solutions suited to Indian conditions while making cutting-edge treatment more affordable and accessible.

The Minister said the Government has simultaneously expanded access to quality healthcare through initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat while strengthening indigenous biomedical research, biotechnology innovation and healthcare infrastructure. He noted that these efforts are helping India emerge as an important global destination for affordable healthcare innovation and biomanufacturing.

Calling for stronger collaboration between government, research institutions, academia, clinicians and industry, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that translating scientific discoveries into affordable healthcare solutions requires greater public-private partnership. He said scientific research must ultimately improve the quality of life of ordinary citizens and contribute to a healthier society.

Referring once again to Dr. Akhilesh Gupta’s journey, the Minister said the book demonstrates that resilience, self-belief, timely medical care and trust in science can overcome even the most formidable health challenges. He added that the author’s experience also reinforces the importance of seeking treatment from qualified medical experts without losing valuable time to unscientific practices.

Concluding his address, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 cannot be realized without a healthy population. He called upon every citizen to become an active participant in a nationwide People’s Movement against cancer, diabetes, obesity and lifestyle diseases by adopting healthy lifestyles, encouraging regular health screening, promoting scientific awareness and helping eliminate health misinformation. Preventing disease, he said, is not the responsibility of governments or doctors alone but a shared national responsibility requiring collective participation from every section of society.