NEW DELHI: Cancer is killing 1 in every 10 people in the South Asia region. Eleven health ministers from the region and the World Health Organization are meeting in two weeks to deal with what they are calling “an important public health priority”.
WHO says “it is a matter of serious concern that 72% of cancer deaths were among those aged below 70 years”. Records show that in 2012, an estimated 1.7 million new cases and 1.2 million deaths occurred due to cancers in the region. WHO projects that by 2030, over 21 million people will be diagnosed and 13 million will die from cancer annually across the globe. WHO SEARO chief Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh told TOI in an exclusive interview at the sidelines of the Call to Action conference that the ministers will meet in Timor Leste to the discussion. Read more