Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 22: Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), a severe blood cancer, remains a major health concern in India, with late-stage diagnoses and limited treatment access. Despite medical advancements, disparities in care persist, particularly in rural areas, affecting survival rates.

AML is the most common leukaemia in adults, marked by the rapid proliferation of abnormal blood cells affecting the blood and bone marrow. In India, patients are diagnosed at a younger median age of 40, and late-stage detection leads to poor prognoses.

Several factors hinder AML treatment, including disorganised referral systems, inadequate diagnostics, financial constraints, and limited hospital infrastructure. Socioeconomic barriers further impact access, as rural patients struggle with travel logistics and unaffordable private care, while public hospitals face resource shortages.

The Government of India has introduced schemes like Ayushman Bharat to improve cancer care, but more efforts are needed. Solutions include better awareness among primary care doctors, decentralised diagnostics, strengthened public-private partnerships, and improved treatment guidelines.

To enhance AML care, addressing systemic barriers, expanding access to early diagnosis, and ensuring affordable treatment are essential. Strengthening healthcare infrastructure and policy interventions will play a key role in bridging these gaps and improving patient outcomes.