There has been overall increase of 1-2% in all cancers including blood cancers
Bengaluru, Karnataka 22nd May 2025 – As India continues to strengthen its cancer care ecosystem, attention is now turning toward lesser-known but highly aggressive diseases that often go undetected until it’s too late. One such condition is Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)—a rare, fast-progressing form of blood cancer that can rapidly become life-threatening without timely diagnosis and treatment. For many patients, the onset is silent, the symptoms vague, and the window for intervention tragically narrow. Despite global strides in targeted therapies and diagnostics, India still faces major challenges in awareness, access, and affordability. With cases gradually rising, experts are calling for AML to be recognized as a national health priority to prevent avoidable loss of life.
As part of a series of nationwide engagements, AbbVie Healthcare hosted a city-level awareness discussion on AML in Bengaluru, bringing together oncologists, to discuss the critical gaps and provided city-specific insights into the current AML landscape.
Dr. Sharat Damodar, Chief of Hematology and Transplant Services,Mazumdar Shaw Medical Cente, Anekal, and Narayana Multispeciality Hospital said,”With a growing urban population and improved cancer registries, there has been overall increase of 1-2% in all cancers including blood cancers like AML, particularly among patients aged 40 and above. However, less than 20% of AML patients here undergo molecular testing, often due to cost barriers and lack of insurance coverage for diagnostics.”
The discussion underscored a pressing need for better integration of advanced diagnostics in government hospitals.
“AML is not just a rare disease, it’s a rapidly fatal one if not caught early. In India, we often encounter patients at advanced stages due to lack of awareness, limited access to diagnostics, and the high cost of advanced treatments. Precision medicine has transformed the global AML landscape. With targeted therapies, we are seeing improved survival rates. But for Indian patients, these breakthroughs are inaccessible unless we implement the right policy and healthcare reforms” said Dr. Prasad Narayanan, Senior Consultant & Director – Medical Oncology, Hemato Oncology & BMT at Cytecare Cancer Hospitals
Advances in AML Treatment: A Hopeful Shift
Traditional chemotherapy, the mainstay of AML treatment, has often been poorly tolerated, especially in older patients. However, the emergence of targeted therapies—which act on specific genetic mutations driving the disease—has dramatically improved remission rates, reduced toxicity, and enhanced quality of life for patients globally.
India, however, has yet to fully benefit from these advancements. Access to molecular and genetic testing remains largely confined to private urban centers. Targeted drugs are often unaffordable, as they are not included in public health schemes or the National Cancer Drug Registry.
“Precision medicine has transformed the global AML landscape. With targeted therapies, we are seeing improved survival rates. But for Indian patients, these breakthroughs are inaccessible unless we implement the right policy and healthcare reforms,” noted Dr. Sharat Damodar, Chief of Hematology and Transplant Services practicing at Mazumdar Shaw Medical Center in Anekal, Bangalore and Narayana Multispeciality Hospital
Policy Imperatives: A Roadmap for Transforming AML Care in India
To address the unmet needs in AML diagnosis and treatment, stakeholders are urging the Indian healthcare system to adopt a multi-pronged strategy:
- Recognize AML as a Public Health Priority: Integrate AML into the national cancer control strategy to enable focused funding, epidemiological tracking, and research prioritization.
- Expand Access to Diagnostics: Establish infrastructure for molecular and genetic testing at government and tertiary care hospitals. Promote public-private partnerships to train diagnostic personnel and scale up access.
- List AML-targeted Therapies in the National Cancer Drug Registry: Ensure regulatory inclusion of new therapies and adopt pricing mechanisms like subsidies or government procurement to reduce costs.
- Reform Insurance and Reimbursement: Include AML-targeted therapies in Ayushman Bharat and private insurance schemes to ease out-of-pocket expenditure for patients.
- Launch a National Awareness and Screening Program: Drive public education on early AML symptoms through national campaigns and equip general practitioners with tools for early detection.
- Integrate AML into National Health Data Systems: Link AML cases to digital health records and cancer registries for real-time tracking and better health planning.
- Support Clinical Research and Trials: Provide regulatory and financial incentives for India-focused AML research to enable locally viable treatment protocols and innovations.
As the burden of AML continues to rise, India must act decisively to improve patient outcomes. Strategic policy changes, enhanced awareness, and equitable access to innovation can turn the tide against this often-fatal disease.
