On International Clinical Trials Day, I was invited as a Guest Speaker at number of places including ‘Medanta – The Medicity’, one of India’s leading hospitals, to address medical students, healthcare professionals, industry stakeholders and media.

Standing at the podium, in my volunteer work capacity of patient research advocate, I shared something close to my heart: the urgent need to strengthen patient voices in healthcare decisions and clinical research in India:

• The current realities and perceptions around clinical trials in India

• Why research and innovation matter to patients and families

• Barriers that prevent participation and trust

• What institutions, industry and healthcare leaders can prioritise to improve outcomes

• Why patient advocacy must become part of the healthcare ecosystem

• Why in India, industry & PI struggle for patient recrutiment and at same time why patients struggle to find clinical trials – how to fill this strange but huge gap!!

Every breakthrough treatment exists because research happened.
Every research question should remember the patient behind it.

Research saves lives. Patient voices save time, suffering and missed opportunities.

Thank you to everyone working towards more compassionate, inclusive and patient-centred healthcare.

And a special thank you for all the kind words, encouragement and conversations after the session – it truly meant a lot.

At India’s one of largest medical conference, At Fortis Cancer Summit 2026 in Delhi, spoke about two realities we can no longer ignore:

1) Access

> For most cancer patients in India, the challenge is not just the disease – but access to treatment.
> Even when “gold standard” therapies exist, they are often financially out of reach.
> Ayushman Bharat insurance scheme still hardly covers any targeted therapies – leaving a critical gap.
> Timely access to Research, Clinical Trials, & latest Treatment is still a dream in most cases in India.

We cannot build a system where survival depends on affordability.

2) Awareness

At the conference, our new initiative of lung cancer awareness effort as part of the White Ribbon Project India – We shared the White Ribbon with oncologists, industry leaders, hospitals, non-profits and policymakers – bringing attention to a cause that needs far greater visibility.

Because awareness grows when voices come together. Change will require both – better access to treatment, and stronger collective awareness.

And it was a warm moment to get hand written note from a cancer survivor 🎗️ 💙

#EveryLivesMatters #ResearchSavesLives #LungCancer #PatientAdvocacy #HealthcareAccess #CancerCareIndia #AffordableHealthcare