HEALTHCARE TRACKER

offer valuable insights into the presence, location, and potential prognosis of the disease. To enhance the precision and effectiveness of cancer screening, we have incorporated innovative approaches that integrate data from genetic profiles, blood analysis, family history, and personal health records. By identifying at-risk patients with integrated key datasets more precisely and efficiently providers can navigate through the most appropriate pathway to detect, characterise, and treat their patient’s cancer. Our oncology offerings include a full suite of multimodality imaging, radiomic and workstation products and solutions: cuttingedge technologies such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT), PET/MR, single-photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT), SPECT/CT, ultrasound, pharmaceutical imaging agents, advanced workstations, and digital analytics.

Another focus area for GE HealthCare is lung cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Accurate diagnosis plays a crucial role in determining the prognosis of patients with lung cancer. However, the presence of incidentally detected pulmonary nodules often poses a challenge as their cancer risk is indeterminate, leading to difficulties in diagnosis and management for clinicians. By continuing to collaborate with leading clinical, academic, pharmaceutical, and research organisations to innovate new radiopharmaceuticals and solutions, we continue to improve clinical, operational, and patient outcomes at every stage of the oncology care pathway.

Based on the estimated incidence of cancer cases in India, what role does early detection play in improving patient outcomes?

The absence of widespread screenings for numerous types of cancer results in diagnoses at later stages, which are associated with lower survival rates, high economic burden on patients and increased strain on the healthcare system. However, there exists a potential to expand screening programs and enhance early detection for a wider range of cancers such as breast cancer. By doing so, we can contribute to improved patient outcomes, including enhanced survival rates and a better quality of life for patients.

COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted several essential health services globally and early detection of cancer services was one of them. Now that we have moved beyond the pandemic, focus needs to shift back to timely identification of cancer so that healthcare professionals can intervene at an early stage when treatment options are more effective and have a higher chance of success. Moreover, early detection provides an opportunity for implementing personalised treatment plans tailored to each patient's specific needs, considering factors such as tumour characteristics, genetic profiles, and overall health status.