Oral Cancer Control in Kerala, India: A Comprehensive Analysis of Policy Documents from 1988 to 2020

Phinse M Philip; Srinivasan Kannan

doi:10.31557/apjcc.2024.9.2.357-363

Authors

Phinse M Philip Preventive and Community Oncology, Malabar Cancer Centre- Post Graduate Institute of Oncology Sciences and Research, Kerala, India.
Srinivasan Kannan Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2731-9428

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31557/apjcc.2024.9.2.357-363

Keywords:

Cancer policy, Cancer care grid, Cancer prevention, Narrative review

Abstract

Kerala, India, has been a pioneer in cancer control efforts at the state level. This study conducted a comprehensive review of cancer control policy documents in Kerala from 1988 to 2020 to analyze the structure and function of oral cancer control within the broader cancer control framework. A systematic search of PubMed, government websites, and institutional libraries identified 18 relevant documents. Two cancer-specific policy documents and two health policy documents were included for analysis. The review employed a checklist to evaluate the documents’ content and strategies. The reviewed documents outlined a pragmatic approach to cancer control in a low-resource setting. The concept of the ‘Kerala Cancer Care Grid’ emerged as an innovative strategy to address geographical disparities in access to care. The documents emphasized interdepartmental coordination and partnerships with the private sector and community organizations.