Mankind Pharma Launches Major Cancer Prevention Drive Targeting Over One Million Women

Mankind Pharma has unveiled an ambitious nationwide cancer prevention programme in collaboration with Mamta Health Institute for Mother & Child (MAMTA HIMC), designed to extend screening awareness and access to breast and cervical cancer detection across underserved regions affecting more than one million women and their families.

The initiative was unveiled during Cancer Survivors Month and directly addresses a critical gap in India's healthcare landscape: the minimal uptake of cancer screening among women. According to national statistics, fewer than 2% of Indian women have ever received cervical or breast cancer screening, despite these malignancies ranking among the most prevalent cancers affecting women nationally. This screening deficit has contributed to a troubling pattern of late-stage diagnoses, which substantially diminish the effectiveness of treatment and patient survival rates.

The programme will mobilise extensive community engagement activities centred on recognising early warning symptoms, practising breast self-examination, accessing cervical cancer screening, and understanding HPV vaccination's preventive potential. Equally important is the capacity-building component: frontline healthcare personnel including ASHAs, ANMs, Community Health Officers (CHOs), and primary health centre teams will receive training to disseminate health information, promote screening uptake, and facilitate connections to diagnostic and treatment services.

Atish Majumdar, Senior President at Mankind Pharma, emphasised the initiative's rationale: "When identified in their initial stages, numerous cancer cases become far more manageable. Yet awareness gaps and limited access—particularly affecting underserved populations—remain formidable obstacles. Our goal is to equip communities and frontline workers with the information required to identify risks, pursue appropriate screening, and embrace preventive health measures."

Dr. Aditya Sarin, Vice Chairman of the Department of Medical Oncology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, underscored the urgency: "Despite therapeutic advances, excessive numbers of women still receive breast and cervical cancer diagnoses when disease is already advanced. Our most effective weapons remain awareness, screening programmes, and vaccination initiatives. Community-based educational efforts can fundamentally reshape how early detection occurs and substantially enhance survival prospects."

Dr. Manish Singhal, Vice Chairman of Medical Oncology at Yashoda Medicity, highlighted the role of grassroots health workers: "Frontline healthcare workers represent the initial healthcare contact for countless women. Equipping them with current knowledge regarding cancer prevention, screening protocols, and appropriate referral processes can substantially enhance the healthcare system's capacity to identify disease earlier and enable rapid treatment."

Implemented through KindCare, Mankind Pharma's social responsibility platform, the initiative incorporates emerging technologies alongside traditional outreach. The programme will promote awareness of AI-powered cervical cancer screening methods currently being tested in specific regions, creating linkages between community education initiatives and actual screening facilities while establishing pathways to specialist consultation to facilitate earlier identification and improved care accessibility.

Utilising MAMTA HIMC's established community networks and engagement capabilities, the programme demonstrates Mankind Pharma's dedication to strengthening preventive health infrastructure and enhancing cancer management outcomes through knowledge dissemination, immunisation programmes, and timely detection mechanisms. Through ongoing partnerships with medical professionals, community-based health workers, and grassroots organisations, the initiative endeavours to ensure women possess both the information and resources to pursue medical attention before disease progresses to advanced phases.