Dimapur, 17 September 2025: Medanta – The Medicity, named Best Private Hospital in India by Newsweek for six years in a row, strengthened its outreach in the North Eastern region, bringing specialized expertise in Medical Oncology to Dimapur with a focus on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics to transform cancer care.

At an event in Dimapur on September 16, 2025, which was held in association with the NGO Beyond Cancer and Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR), Dr. Amit Bhargava, Director, Medical Oncology, Cancer Care at Medanta spoke about advances in medical oncology over the last decade, which allow doctors to tailor the treatment of cancer patients to the unique genetic and molecular profile of their tumour. He also spoke on the importance of the early detection of cancer, which helps improves treatment outcomes by providing care at the earliest possible stage.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and is a critical health concern in India, with an estimated 14 lakh incidences of cancer cases in 2023 alone, as per data shared by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)[1]. Within India, the North Eastern states record the highest incidence of cancer cases[2] -- a matter that is further exacerbated by inadequate cancer treatment facilities[3]. Nagaland in particular faces unique healthcare challenges due to a high prevalence of cancer – especially with regards to tobacco use, which is linked to more than a third of cancer incidences recorded in males, and over 11 in females[4].

Speaking at the Dimapur event on the topic “Recent Advances in Medical Oncology (Precision Oncology)”, Dr. Amit Bhargava, Director, Medical Oncology, Cancer Care at Medanta, said, “AI and data analytics have transformed precision oncology, helping doctors make sense of vast clinical datasets. AI-driven platforms can predict treatment responses, identify novel drug targets, and even design adaptive clinical trials that accelerate the availability of new therapies. Instead of relying solely on traditional chemotherapy, oncologists can now analyse tumour DNA through next-generation sequencing to identify specific mutations or biomarkers that trigger the growth of cancer, allowing for targeted therapies that block those genes.”

A day after the event, Dr. Bhargava and other doctors from Medanta on September 17, 2025 held an OPD in Dimapur, extending the award-winning hospital’s specialist consultations and diagnostic services closer to the people of Nagaland.

The two activities in Dimapur took place subsequent to Medanta signing an MoU with the Government of Nagaland for accreditation to the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS). Medanta also partnered with IDAN, Government of Nagaland, to create a booklet that addresses health-related queries and helps spread awareness of key concerns with relation to general well-being. The booklet, which was created in association with the Nagaland Department of Youth Resources and Sports, was launched earlier this month by Shri Neiphiu Rio, Honorable Chief Minister, Government of Nagaland, and was announced in the state Assembly by Shri Sharingain Longkumer, the Honorable Speaker.

[1] https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2102729
[2] https://www.deccanherald.com/health/cancer-incidence-highest-in-northeast-india-finds-study-3708586
[3] https://ncdirindia.org/All_Reports/NorthEast2021/resources/NE_chapter7.pdf
[4] https://ncdirindia.org/All_Reports/NorthEast2021/resources/NE_Complete.pdf