Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an interaction with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, expressed his govt’s commitment to allocating funds to scientists for local research in cervical cancer, while emphasising the need to develop vaccines at minimal costs to ensure all girls across the country are vaccinated against the disease.
Modi said, should the NDA govt be voted back to take the helm at the Centre, his priority will be to significantly invest in this research “to safeguard the lives of India’s daughters. In the coming days, I want to talk about cervical cancer, especially for our daughters. I want to give a budget to our scientists in India. And I want to tell them to do local research on this as well and make a vaccine. And with very little money, I want to vaccinate all the daughters in my country. I am working in that direction these days.”
Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in women in India. The top five cancers among Indian women were found to be those of the breast, cervix, ovary, mouth and colorectum. The top five cancers among men were those of the oral cavity, lung, oesophagus, colorectum and stomach.
Last September, Serum Institute of India chief executive officer Adar Poonwala had said that the company’s cervical cancer vaccine would be available in the range of ₹200-400.
Imported vaccines cost anywhere between ₹2,000 to ₹3,500 per dose, which is nearly 10 times the expected price of the indigenously-developed vaccine.
The Prime Minister also spoke on a range of issues from artificial intelligence, use of technology, climate change, renewable energy, digital public infrastructure and women’s empowerment.
