Aformal announcement elevating the prestigious Cancer Institute (Institute), Adyar, to an ‘apex institute’ by the Union Health Ministry is expected to be made soon. The Institute is rated by the World Health Organization as the top ranking cancer institute in the country.

The Union Health Ministry has recently identified the Cancer Institute as one of the leading tertiary care cancer centers that needs to be strengthened under its National Program for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVD and Stroke.Dr. V Shanta said, after the honor is bestowed, the Cancer Institute will be called the ‘State Cancer Institute’ elevating its position from the current ‘Regional Centre for Cancer Care’.