Kerala Introduces Robotic Surgery & Cancer Grid for Advanced Cancer Care

The advancements are part of the Nava Kerala Action Plan-2 Aardram Mission, which focuses on ten key healthcare objectives, including cancer control and prevention.

Kerala is making strides in cancer treatment with the introduction of state-of-the-art facilities, including a robotic surgery unit, at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) Thiruvananthapuram and the Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC) Thalassery.

Health Minister Veena George has announced the development, highlighting that this marks the first time such advanced facilities have been introduced in the government healthcare sector.

The advancements are part of the Nava Kerala Action Plan-2 Aardram Mission, which focuses on ten key healthcare objectives, including cancer control and prevention.

Minister George revealed that the Cancer Grid is a coordinated network established by the Health Department to enhance cancer treatment and patient management across the state.

The Cancer Grid connects the three major cancer centers in Kerala, cancer treatment units in medical colleges, and cancer care facilities under the Health Department.

It also integrates health institutions, from family health centers to district hospitals, ensuring streamlined patient referrals and better care coordination.

On February 4, 2025, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the state's cancer prevention campaign, 'Arogyam Anandam - Akattam Arbudham,' and launched the Cancer Grid to facilitate early detection and improve access to cancer care.

Affordable Cancer Medicines through Karunya Sparsham

George also highlighted the success of the 'Karunya Sparsham - Zero Profit Anti-Cancer Drugs' scheme, which offers costly cancer medications at company prices through selected Karunya pharmacies.

In just five months, medicines worth INR 2.5 Cr were distributed under this scheme, with patients benefitting from discounts of up to 88% compared to market rates.

Initially, dedicated pharmacy counters were set up in all 14 districts to distribute cancer drugs. The state plans to expand this service further to increase accessibility.

The government has also doubled the allocation for cancer medications in recent years. In 2024-25 alone, the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) supplied cancer drugs worth INR 27.43 crore to medical colleges, district hospitals, and other cancer care centers.

Early Screening & Detection Campaigns

Under the 'Arogyam Anandam—Akattam Arbudham' public health campaign, nearly 12 lakh people were screened within the first month. The initial phase focused on women over 30, with approximately 45,000 individuals referred for further diagnostic tests.

The state has equipped government hospitals with cutting-edge imaging technologies, including PET scans, SPECT scans, and mammography units, to strengthen early diagnosis and detection.

Advanced radiation therapy options, such as high-energy linear Accelerator (LINAC) machines, Telecobalt machines, and brachytherapy units, have also been introduced to improve treatment outcomes.

Upgrading Cancer Centres & Research Facilities

The Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC) has been upgraded to a Postgraduate Institute of Oncology Science and Research with financial support of INR 562.25 crore from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).

Minister George noted that efforts are underway to transform both RCC and MCC into centers of excellence in digital pathology.

RCC recently developed 'Cervi Scan,' an innovative tool for cervical cancer detection that has received recognition from the United Nations. MCC has also made significant progress in advanced treatments, successfully implementing CART-cell therapy and ocular plaque brachytherapy for treating eye cancer.

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