September 4th 2024 – Merck India, a leading science and technology company committed to supporting cancer patients, announced a strategic partnership with Rashtreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust, a not-for-profit organization, under their ongoing Rural Oncology Project. The announcement was solidified during an event held at Shree Sathya Sai Hospital, Bangalore,in the presence of Ms. Pratima Reddy, Country Speaker for Merck India & MD, Merck Specialities Private Limited, Dr B L Sujatha Rathod, Director for Medical Education, Karnataka and Dr M P Shyam President, RV Institutions, Dr Mahesh, District Health Officer, Chikkaballapur and Dr Raghupathi A R, Director, SMSIMSR among other dignitaries.
The key objective of the event was to bring together significant stakeholders from the government, academia, healthcare, and business sectors to foster a conversation on the necessity of joining hands towards a larger goal like tackling the growing burden of oral cancer that the country is struggling with.
This initiative aims to provide residents of underserved regions of Bangalore with access to quality cancer care, including screening and free diagnostic support at the state-of-the-art facilities of Sri Sathya Sai Madhusudan Hospital. Additionally, this project will also help in identifying biomarkers for cancer by providing biopsy samples to IIT Bombay for furthering the research undertaken by them in said domain.
Continuing its focus on enhancing screening, early diagnosis and timely access to cancer care, Merck and the Rashtreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust are working together to raise awareness about cancer care and provide treatment to people in approximately 600 villages in Karnataka. So far, under this initiative, 933 people have been screened, 60 have received diagnostic support, 106 have been identified with precancerous lesions, 68 have been treated for non-cancerous oral ailments, and 2 people diagnosed with cancer have been provided with referral support.
This collaboration between Merck India and Rashtreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust marks a significant step forward in addressing the cancer care gap in rural Karnataka. By leveraging best of their resources and expertise, they are committed to improving early detection, diagnosis, and treatment for marginalized populations.