Apollo Hospitals Focusing on Oncology to Tackle Rising Cancer Cases
As India faces over 1.5 million new cancer cases annually and the global burden of the disease expected to increase by 77% by 2050, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd is doubling down on oncology as its cornerstone of growth and innovation strategy.
Dinesh Madhavan, President, Group Oncology & International at Apollo Hospitals, describes cancer care as not just a clinical challenge but a transformative opportunity to redefine healthcare delivery in India.
"With cancer emerging as one of the most pressing non-communicable disease crises in the country, our strategy is to respond with a future-ready, deeply integrated model that can scale with precision," says Madhavan.
Currently, oncology services contribute around 25% of Apollo’s overall healthcare revenue, and Madhavan expects it to grow significantly, potentially becoming the largest contributor within the next 3-5 years as demand rises for advanced therapies, precision medicine, and AI-driven diagnostics.
Apollo’s investment in oncology has been both sustained and strategic over the past decade. In addition to the ₹1,000 crore Apollo Proton Cancer Centre (APCC) launched in Chennai in 2019, the hospital has developed a network of high-tech oncology centres across India equipped with CAR-T cell therapy (currently in clinical rollout), immunotherapies, nano-medicine, and AI-powered diagnostic platforms.
A recent initiative—the AI-Precision Oncology Centre (AI-PoC)—serves as a hub for developing personalized treatment protocols, aided by real-time diagnostics and machine learning algorithms.
Apollo is actively exploring new alliances and acquisitions to deepen its oncology capabilities. Key focus areas include genomics integration for therapy planning, the commercial expansion of CAR-T cell therapy, and global biotech collaborations to bring nano-therapies into routine care.
Apollo is actively exploring new alliances and acquisitions to deepen its oncology capabilities. Key focus areas include genomics integration for therapy planning, the commercial expansion of CAR-T cell therapy, and global biotech collaborations to bring nano-therapies into routine care.
The strategy to optimize its use includes expanding eligibility beyond pediatric and CNS cancers to include breast and prostate cancers, where precision is paramount.
Apollo’s technology strategies like remote monitoring, liquid biopsies, and AI diagnostics are expected to accelerate early detection and personalized treatment.
**Public-Private Partnerships
** "Public-private partnerships can transform the cancer care landscape—but only if policy, investment, and infrastructure move in tandem," he notes.
Looking ahead, Apollo is channeling its investments toward outpatient oncology hubs and home-based chemotherapy programs, combining convenience with clinical safety.
