India has stepped up its commitment to global health by pledging millions of dollars and vaccines to combat cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region. This pledge was made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States, where he announced the formation of the Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative alongside other Quad leaders.
The initiative builds on the US’s own Cancer Moonshot program, a pet project of President Joe Biden, who aims to speed up cancer research and treatment advancements. The program has been in existence since 2016, when then-President Barack Obama launched it with the goal of making a decade’s worth of progress in half the time. Biden, at the time Vice President, was appointed to chair the task force and played a pivotal role in shaping the initiative.
The Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative seeks to tackle the burden of cervical cancer, a largely preventable disease that disproportionately affects the Indo-Pacific region. India has pledged $7.5 million for cancer testing, screening, and diagnostics, along with 40 million vaccines through the Gavi and Quad initiatives.
India’s contribution reflects its commitment to ‘One Earth, One Health,’ a vision that emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. The country also plans to provide assistance in radiotherapy treatment and capacity building, sharing its expertise and experience with other nations.
Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of collaboration in tackling cancer, highlighting the need for shared knowledge and resources. The Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative represents a significant step toward achieving this goal, bringing together the US, India, Australia, and Japan to work towards a shared objective.
The initiative is expected to foster greater cooperation between hospitals, research centers, and cancer foundations across the participating countries. It also aims to increase investment in screenings, treatment, and research, while promoting exchanges to improve vaccination rates throughout the region.
The Quad partners, through the initiative, intend to advance research and development in the field of cancer, encourage private sector and non-governmental sector involvement, and work with United Nations agencies to make cervical cancer screening more accessible and affordable. They also plan to collaborate with the International Atomic Energy Agency to improve access to and quality of medical imaging and radiation therapy.
The initiative signifies a collective commitment to tackling a major health challenge facing the Indo-Pacific region. Through this collaboration, the Quad partners hope to make a significant difference in the lives of people affected by cancer, reducing the burden of the disease and bringing hope for a healthier future.
