Washington–Indian-American radiation oncologist Dattatreyudu Nori said widespread HPV vaccination could give India a decisive advantage in preventing cervical cancer and potentially eliminate the disease in the coming years.
“Now, with the HPV vaccination, we have an upper hand, and in few years, we’ll be able to eliminate cancer of the cervix from India,” Nori said in an interview.
The 2026 Padma Bhushan recipient described cervical cancer as preventable, detectable and curable, saying the continued loss of life from the disease is particularly distressing for cancer specialists.
“Cancer of the cervix is preventable, is detectable, is treatable and curable,” he said.
Nori said about 200 women die from cervical cancer each day in India. He welcomed the introduction of free HPV vaccinations for girls, saying the initiative could significantly strengthen the country’s prevention efforts.
He also praised changes in India’s healthcare sector over the past 12 years, particularly improvements in cancer prevention and treatment.
“A lot of significant positive changes have happened. A lot of significant, especially in healthcare,” he said.
Nori cited the establishment of the National Cancer Institute and the expansion of cancer treatment facilities as important developments.
“For the first time, he established National Cancer Institute. We didn’t have that before,” Nori said, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said India has also opened more cancer and outpatient centers, expanded financial assistance for patients and reduced the cost of imported chemotherapy medicines.
“So many other programs he’s introduced in terms of cancer care. So I really commend him for his, all his contributions,” he said.
Nori expressed confidence that India would continue advancing cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment.
“I’m very optimistic that, we will be making significant strides in cancer detection, prevention, screening, and treatment in India,” he said.
Reflecting on his career, Nori said he arrived in the United States about 50 years ago and rose through the ranks of medicine and academia to lead a department at an Ivy League medical school.
“This is possible only in America. Only in America,” he told a gathering in Washington.
Nori received the Padma Bhushan for medicine in 2026. The honor is India’s third-highest civilian award. (Source: IANS)
