A recent study has revealed that breast cancer screening rates among middle-aged women in India remain critically low, with only 1% of women aged 45 and above undergoing mammograms. Conducted by researchers from Tata Memorial Centres in Mumbai and Varanasi, the study found that India lags behind global screening rates—4.5% in African nations, 40-60% in South Korea and Japan, and 84% in Europe and the U.S. Kerala recorded the highest screening rate within India, while Nagaland had the lowest.
To help address this issue, Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical company Granules India Limited, in collaboration with AIG Hospitals, launched a breast health screening and awareness camp for female police officers at the Telangana State Police Headquarters. Part of the ‘Breast Health Express’ initiative, the program aimed to promote early detection and awareness of breast cancer among women in law enforcement. The camp provided breast health screenings and educational sessions for 100 women police officers, emphasizing the importance of preventive healthcare.
Disparities in Breast Cancer Screening Across India
The study, published in BioMed Central (BMC) Public Health, highlighted disparities in screening rates across Indian states. While Kerala and Karnataka recorded the highest rates at 4.5% and 2.9%, Nagaland reported zero screenings, with Andhra Pradesh and Uttarakhand also alarmingly low at 0.1% and 0.27%, respectively. The findings underscore the inadequate implementation of early breast cancer detection under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS), which was launched in 2010. Despite NPCDCS guidelines recommending clinical breast examinations every five years for women aged 30-65, there is little data on its real-world adoption.
An analysis of over 35,000 women from the Longitudinal Aging Study of India (2017-18) found that only 1.3% of women aged 45 and above had undergone a mammogram, with rates slightly higher among those aged 45-59 (1.7%) than women 60 and older (0.9%). Factors such as education level and pre-existing health conditions, including diabetes and reproductive health issues, were linked to higher screening rates. A separate study published in the International Journal of Cancer in 2022, analyzing data from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey, reported that just 1% of women aged 30-49 underwent clinical breast cancer screenings—far below the NPCDCS target of 70% coverage.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Indian women, contributing to 13.8% of new cancer cases, according to an Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia. With India’s aging population, cancer-related deaths are projected to increase by 2% annually over the next two decades, posing a significant public health challenge.
Promoting Early Detection in High-Risk Professions
Telangana’s Director General of Police, Dr. Jitendra, IPS, emphasized the importance of preventive healthcare for women in demanding professions. “Women in law enforcement often prioritize duty over personal health, leading to delayed screenings. Early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes and recovery rates. I strongly encourage all women above 40 to undergo breast cancer screening annually or at least every two years,” he stated. He commended Granules India and c for their initiative, stressing the need for regular screenings for women in uniform.
Since its launch in September 2024, the Breast Health Express mobile unit has conducted 18 camps, screening over 1,000 women and reaching more than 2,000 individuals through educational outreach. The mobile unit is equipped with mammography and ultrasound facilities and offers additional health assessments, including hemoglobin and blood pressure checks. The program is supported by Granules India Ltd, AIG Hospitals, the Asian Medical Foundation, and the UC Breast Foundation.
Expanding Access to Life-Saving Screenings
“Breast cancer cases are rising rapidly in India, especially in Telangana. ‘Breast Health Express’ aims to make early detection more accessible by bringing mammography and ultrasound screenings closer to women,” said Dr. Pragnya Chigurupati, Consultant Breast Oncologist at AIG Hospitals and Founder of the UC Breast Foundation. She also noted that the UC Breast Foundation would provide financial assistance to women in need of treatment for breast health concerns.
Uma Chigurupati, Executive Director of Granules India, has played a key role in leading the company’s CSR healthcare initiatives. Under her leadership, Granules India continues to focus on expanding access to preventive healthcare, particularly for women in underserved communities.
This initiative highlights the urgent need for increased breast cancer screening and awareness, ensuring that more women receive timely and potentially life-saving medical interventions.
