THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW
DELHI, JULY 19, 2026
Stressing that
India's battle against cancer, diabetes, obesity and other lifestyle diseases
must extend beyond hospitals to become a nationwide people's movement, Union
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth
Sciences, Dr. Jitendra Singh on Sunday underscored the need for evidence-based
healthcare and scientific communication to counter the growing menace of health
misinformation. He said the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 can only be realised
through a healthy population empowered with timely medical guidance, early
detection and scientifically validated health information.
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, Dr. Jitendra Singh called for a
nationwide People's Movement (Jan Andolan) against cancer, diabetes, obesity
and other lifestyle diseases. He said 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 realising the
vision of Viksit Bharat.
The event was
attended by eminent medical professionals, members of the 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.
Describing the book
as much more than a personal memoir, Dr. Jitendra Singh said it chronicles an
extraordinary journey of courage, resilience, integrity and unwavering faith in
science. Having read the book in its entirety, he said it offers important
lessons not only for patients battling serious illnesses but also for doctors,
scientists, administrators and young professionals, demonstrating how
determination and the right medical guidance can transform adversity into
inspiration.
Highlighting India's
changing disease profile, Dr. Jitendra Singh said non-communicable diseases
have emerged as one of the country's biggest public health challenges. He noted
that cancer, diabetes, obesity, fatty liver disease and other metabolic
disorders are rising across all regions and increasingly affecting younger
populations. Stressing the importance of timely diagnosis, he said several
cancers are now curable or manageable if detected early, making regular
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 emphasised that balanced nutrition, regular physical
activity and periodic health check-ups should become an integral part of daily
life if India is to effectively curb the rising burden of lifestyle diseases.
Dr. Jitendra Singh
also cautioned against the alarming spread of misinformation relating to
nutrition, diet and disease management. He observed that unverified advice and
pseudoscientific claims often delay proper treatment and discourage patients
from approaching qualified healthcare professionals in time. Calling for
greater scientific awareness, he urged citizens to rely on evidence-based
medical advice while making decisions related to their health.
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 emphasised 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
realised 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.
