A study conducted by the Tata Memorial Hospital on the impact of Covid-19 on cancer care in India reveals a considerable reduction in new patient registrations, follow ups, radiology and pathology tests and other cancer care services in India.

Published in The Lancet, the study included data from Tata’s 41 centres across India. “Reductions in volumes of cancer services were dramatic. New patient registrations fell by 54 per cent, outpatient clinic visits by 46 per cent, hospital admissions by 36 per cent, pathology by 38 per cent, radiology by 43 per cent, surgeries by 49 to 52 per cent, chemotherapy by 37 per cent, radiation by 23 per cent and palliative care by 29 per cent,” said Dr CS Pramesh, director, Tata Memorial Hospital.