Although many announcements have been made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to America, one program is being discussed the most, and that is Cancer Moonshot. PM Modi announced the Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative in the Indo-Pacific to fight cancer. What exactly is this Cancer Moonshot program? America runs its own Cancer Moonshot program. It is said that this is the favorite plan of President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden. So how is this different from that?

The Cancer Moonshot Program was launched in 2016 to do more and more scientific research on cancer. The then-President Barack Obama started it on January 12, 2016. A budget provision was made for it by making a law. Obama entrusted the responsibility of the task force to Joe Biden, who was the Vice President at the time. He was assigned some tasks. Like, giving suggestions on how to prevent cancer, and how to treat it. Creating more access to new research, data, and computational capabilities. Identifying and removing obstacles in the treatment of cancer. A blue ribbon panel of experts was also formed. In 2016, the Blue Ribbon Panel started a new program for the treatment of cancer. It submitted a report, which contained 10 recommendations.

1. Build a network to direct patients
2. Create a translational science network dedicated exclusively to immunotherapy
3. Develop ways to overcome resistance to cancer treatments
4. Build a national cancer data ecosystem
5. Intensify research on the leading causes of childhood cancer
6. Minimize the debilitating side effects of cancer treatments
7. Expand the use of proven cancer prevention and early detection strategies
8. Use past patient data to predict future patient outcomes
9. Develop a 3-D cancer atlas
10. Develop new cancer technologies

Biden's son also died of cancer
. When Biden became president, he took this initiative forward. The Cancer Moonshot page on the White House website reads, "We are planning to treat cancer patients as soon as possible so that people can live a long and healthy life. Cancer patients and their families do not have to suffer." After this, the White House formed a cancer cabinet, which included about two dozen agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration and Office of Management and Budget. Let us tell you that Biden's son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015.

How will India help?
Modi said India will contribute $7.5 million for cancer testing, screening, and diagnosis in the Indo-Pacific region. Modi also said India will provide 40 million vaccines under the Gavi and Quad initiatives. The White House described cervical cancer as a "largely preventable disease" that remains a major crisis in the Indo-Pacific region. "India is ready to share its experience and expertise," Modi said in his speech. He stressed that the grant was given under India's vision of 'One Earth, One Health'. He said India will also assist in radiotherapy treatment. When the Quad acts, it is not just for nations, it is for people. Modi further said, cooperation is essential in cancer care, for treatment. I want to thank President Biden for organizing this event. Every year, 150,000 women die of cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific. We cannot and will not let this happen.