Chennai: Tamil Nadu's priority is to integrate cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment innovations into public health delivery to strengthen cancer care, DMK MLA and State Planning Commission member Dr. Ezhilan Naganathan said on Thursday.

Speaking at FICCI's 'OncoPharma 2025' roundtable on building a resilient cancer care ecosystem, Dr. Naganathan said the state had launched the 'Tamil Nadu Cancer Care Mission' to create an inclusive cancer care framework. A dedicated site had been identified for a cancer diagnostic, genomic and immunology lab in collaboration with the Industry Department to ensure affordable, high-end testing, he said.

Despite strong health infrastructure, he noted that doctors and researchers remained overburdened, under-supported and constrained by bureaucratic hurdles, underscoring the need for better alignment between policy and implementation. Stronger collaboration among government, industry, academia and healthcare institutions will be crucial to scale indigenous R&D in oncology, genomics and immunotherapy, he added.

Dr. G.S.K. Velu, Chair of FICCI Tamil Nadu State Council, said the state was positioned to lead advancements in affordable diagnostics and personalised treatment through deeper partnerships. IDMA Chair J. Jayaseelan highlighted the rising global cancer burden and the need for collaborative, holistic approaches combining modern and traditional systems.

An EY-Parthenon analysis presented at the event said Tamil Nadu accounts for 6.4 per cent of India's cancer burden with 1.2 lakh new cases annually, performing above national averages in screening but needing improved late-stage management and wider access to advanced diagnostics. The roundtable also discussed sustainable financing models and systemic reforms to strengthen equitable cancer care across the state.