BHarihar Swarup
Dr Ravi Kannan, an oncologist and director of Assam’s Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (CCHRC) was on Thursday named as one of the four winners of the 2023 Ramon Magsaysay Award, for his work in “holistic health care”.
Kannan, who is also a recipient of the Padma Shri—India’s fourth highest civilian honour, called the award a privilege for his hospital that he would receive it only as its head. “We all are working as a team and everyone is contributing equally to make this project a success. Not only those who are working here but the people who are supporting from outside, they are also winners,” he said.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation bestows the award on people for their exemplary contributions to Asia. It was set as a tribute to former Philippines President Ramon Magsaysay.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Kannan and said the doctor has “played an impactful role in transforming cancer care” in the state, “especially in rural areas”. Kannan, who is from Chennai, moved to Silchar with his wife, Seeta, in 2007 to take charge of CCHRC. The 43-year-old worked earlier as a surgeon at Chennai’s Adyar Cancer Institute and was awarded Padma Shri for his contribution to the health sector in 2020.
The oncologist has helped launch clinics in Assam’s Karimganj, Hailakandi and Dima Haso to make health assessable to everyone. He said CCHRC’S follow up ratio was below 50 per cent once, but more than 90 per cent now. Kannan supervised the first micro vascular surgery of a cancer patient in CCHRCS in 2012. It was also the first such procedure conducted in Northeast.
Kannan said the government has shown its support through the introduction of health schemes such as the Atal Amrit Abhyan, and the poor are now getting access to proper treatment easily. “We are a society-run centre. But whenever we ask for any support, the government never says no”, he said. He underlined that cancer is curable, like any other disease. “I do not want to see a single person dying without dignity because he or she has cancer,” Kannan said. Kannan’s mother, Indumati, said she was confident her son would be rewarded for his work. “He was always a humble child and dedicated to his work”, she said.
The cost of treatment since the very beginning was very nominal and this was followed by subsidising the treatment but “what became a challenge was that after the initial visit, patients did not return for follow-up treatment,” he said.
According to the citation on the website of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, under Dr. Kannan’s leadership, the CCHRC became a full-fledged comprehensive cancer hospital and research centre. From having limited facilities when he came on board, the hospital now has 28 departments covering oncology, pathology, radiology, microbiology, epidemiology, tumour registry, and palliative care. From 23 personnel, the hospital now employs 451 persons.
The hospital introduced pro-poor initiatives such as free treatment, food and lodging, ad hoc employment for caregivers, and a homecare programme as patients could not continue their treatment due to difficulty in travelling long distances, and cost, with the underlying reason being poverty. Hospital team members travelled long distances to train family members in pain management and palliative care, and provided free medicines. As a result, patient compliance rate in treatment rose from 28 per cent to 70 per cent. (IPA )
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