Kochi | Health Minister K. Muraleedharan pledged the state government's full support for initiatives aimed at curbing the rising cancer rates in Kerala and achieving new scientific breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment. He was speaking after virtually inaugurating the Aster Quality Care Cancer Conclave (AQCCON) 2026, organised by the Aster International Institute of Oncology in Kochi.
The Minister pointed out that cancer prevention and advanced treatment methods are of great importance to Kerala. "Today, cancer is being detected even among healthy young people who exercise regularly. The inability to identify the disease at an early stage often poses a significant challenge. The Health Department will thoroughly review the discussions and recommendations from this conclave, and the government will take the necessary follow-up actions," he added.
During the inaugural session, actress Divya Pillai and AQCCON -2026 Chairperson Dr. Jem Kalathil launched the fifth edition of Sakhi 5.0, the Aster International Institute of Oncology's programme for people living with or after cancer and the families who care for them. Sakhi offers support for survivors, online classes and help with practical concerns, and conducts educational sessions on the importance of breast cancer screening and self-examination in various settings. The soft launch of the Onco Infusion Day Care area by S. Ramesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (India-1), Aster DM Quality Care Ltd was also part of the programme.
" Despite high cancer incidence and mortality rates in Kerala, cancer is increasingly treatable and curable when detected early or managed with modern advances like immunotherapy and precision oncology. To address this, the Aster Quality Care Cancer Conclave gathers national and international leaders across surgical, medical, radiation, and nuclear oncology to foster research collaboration and deliver high-quality, personalized care that combines international standards with local affordability and empathy to save more lives,” said Prof. Dr. Somashekhar S P, Global Director – Aster International Institute of Oncology – GCC & India.
Dr. Arun R. Warrier, Organising Secretary of AQCCON and Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, Aster Medcity, Kochi said: "What we need to carry forward is Multidisciplinary Comprehensive cancer care where Precision Oncology helps to chart out a successful treatment plan, optimising long term outcomes and quality of life."
The conclave brings together more than 100 eminent faculty members from across the country across 60 academic sessions. The programme includes keynote lectures, multidisciplinary tumour boards, expert panel discussions, case-based debates and presentations of cutting-edge clinical research. This edition marks a defining moment for the healthcare sector, as ASTER, CARE Hospitals, KIMSHEALTH and EVERCARE come together as one integrated healthcare organisation.
Prof. Dr. Somashekhar S P, Global Director – Aster International Institute of Oncology – GCC & India, S. Ramesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (India-1), Aster DM Quality Care Ltd, Dr. Nalanda Jayadev, Regional CEO, Central Kerala, Aster DM Quality Care Limited, Dr. Shuhaib Khader, COO Aster Medcity, actress Divya Pillai, Chairpersons such as Dr. Jem Kalathil, Dr. K V Gangadharan, Dr. C N Patil, Organizing Secretaries such as Dr. Arun R. Warrier and Dr. Sharath S spoke during the inaugural ceremony.