Cancer-Fighting Entrepreneurs: How Some Indian Startups Are Making Impacts By Positively Impacting Health


Although pharmaceutical companies work on dozens of projects at any given time, it could arguably be said that if one of them were able to concoct a widely recognized cure for cancer, the value of the business would skyrocket, and people's lives would be changed forever.

According to statistics from IMS Health, $107 billion was spent on cancer treatment efforts last year. Pharmaceutical experts hope to find something that'll either cure cancer or help patients survive for longer while enjoying an improved quality of life. Looking at those statistics alone, you might feel hopeful about potential cancer treatments. However, it's important to have the proper perspective and realize most of the emerging drugs and treatment options available are restricted to developed countries.

Refusing to be deterred by that reality, some startup companies in India have poured resources into the cause. Although the amount of cancer treatment resources available in India is less than in other parts of the world, there are steadfast and determined entrepreneurs from Indian startups who feel they can genuinely make a difference through their efforts and help stifle the growing cancer death trend in their country.

 Why is Cancer Particularly Problematic in India?

Cancer is a life-threatening illness in any country, but outcomes are especially severe for patients diagnosed with it in India. It's one of the few places in the world associated with a sharp rise in the number of residents dying from cancer.

Unfortunately, one of the reasons for that is because people can't afford the treatment they need. Nearly three-quarters of medical-related expenses get paid for out of pocket because patients don't have insurance.

 Patients without insurance are often barred from accessing top-quality treatments. Furthermore, India has a shortage of hospitals and medical workers who are trained in cancer treatment practices.

 A Company Tries to Make Radiology Costs More Realistic

Radiologic treatment machines are extremely expensive, and since India already doesn't have enough hospitals to treat its cancer patients, it can be very difficult for those facilities to get the equipment medical professionals need to know whether cancerous growths have grown, shrunk, or remained the same size.

A company called Panacea Medical Technologies is doing what it can to make radiology machines more affordable for Indian hospitals. So far, the business has brought its equipment to almost 55 hospitals since 2010. Also, since the company is highly specialized in radiology, it hopes to become the third member of a very elite list of providers that offer the world's radiology machines. The other two companies are located in Sweden and the United States.

 UE Lifesciences Facilitates Early Detection for Breast Cancer

UE Lifesciences is a company that has focused on helping Indian women detect abnormal breast tissue sooner, in hopes of getting them faster access to treatment when necessary. Representatives have developed a gadget that's small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. Called iBreastExam, it identifies differences in breast tissue elasticity and could detect cancerous tissues.

In India, women are often discouraged by the idea of getting mammograms because they are very expensive, and a specialist must perform the test. In contrast, the iBreastExam tool offers a screening that's much more reasonably priced (usually from 80-1,000 Rs) and does not have to be administered by someone with special training. Since the device became available in India last year, 10,000 women have benefited from it.

Catering to the Needs of the Market

The two examples above demonstrate how observant entrepreneurs identified a need and decided to use their expertise to help people be healthier by stimulating ease of access. In the United States, a food technology company called Hampton Creek has similar aims. Founded in 2011, the company was born from the belief that it should be easy to eat well. Browse through the businesses’ Instagram feed and you’ll see tempting pictures of healthy foods that make your mouth water.

Hampton Creek’s leaders realized their target market wanted to eat healthily without sacrificing convenience. They’ve responded by creating products like egg-free mayonnaise and cookies made without common allergens so more people can enjoy them. Just like the pioneers in Indian medicine, this cuisine company has tuned into what customers need and want, then worked hard to provide solutions.

It could easily be said that entrepreneurs consistently search for voids in the marketplace and try to fill them. Hopefully, these examples make you feel inspired about what’s possible and maybe even help you make your own aspirations come to fruition.

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