Kochi, 19 May 2026 – Cancer is one of India’s most pressing public health challenges. According to GLOBOCAN 2022, the country recorded over 1.4 million new cancer cases and nearly 917,000 cancer-related deaths in a single year, with breast, oral cavity and cervical cancers among the most prevalent. Behind every statistic is a patient navigating a system that, in many cities, is not yet equipped to meet the scale of the challenge.
It is a challenge that cities like Kochi are now determined to address.
C/Can Kochi is a dedicated consortium led by the Butterfly Cancer Care Foundation, bringing together cancer-focused civil society organisations with a shared mandate to drive and implement this initiative at the city level. Two formal agreements now anchor that commitment. The Butterfly Cancer Care Foundation, on behalf of C/Can Kochi, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the City Cancer Challenge Foundation (C/Can) to advance efforts toward stronger, more equitable cancer care in the city. A second MoU, signed between the Kochi Municipal Corporation and the Butterfly Cancer Care Foundation on behalf of C/Can Kochi, establishes a formal commitment to implement cancer care activities across the city’s jurisdiction, spanning awareness, patient support, infrastructure, and community-based programmes.
Together, these agreements mark a turning point, bringing both public and private health sectors, international health expertise, professional organisations and civil society into a single, coordinated effort under C/Can Kochi.
A Commitment Rooted in Urgency and Action
Kochi brings real strengths to this work: a robust healthcare infrastructure, a history of medical innovation, and a growing coalition of stakeholders who understand what is at stake. C/Can’s model builds on these foundations, supporting cities to design locally relevant, and sustainable solutions to fill the most critical gaps in their cancer care systems.
Under the initiative, C/Can Kochi and the Kochi Municipal Corporation will co-create strategies targeting access to essential medicines, training for healthcare professionals, patient navigation and early detection, areas where action can translate directly to better outcomes for patients.
The State of Kerala is a leading destination for quality medical care in India, and Kpochi, located in the central part has a great opportunity,
said Dr Moni Kuriakose and Dr Manzoor Koyakutty representing C/Can Kochi and the Butterfly Cancer Care Foundation
Now, with C/Can Kochi, we have the chance to redefine cancer care within our hospitals, communities, policies, and our approach to treating every patient with dignity and urgency.
Having a C/Can city in India is a critical milestone,
said Isabel Mestres, CEO at C/Can.
With India’s growing cancer burden, Kochi’s engagement has the potential to drive scalable solutions and inspire similar efforts across the region.
Chika Kitajima, Regional Director for Asia at C/Can, highlighted the strategic importance of this step:
Kochi’s inclusion in C/Can sets a precedent for other Indian and Asian cities. By strengthening city-led solutions, we can build a model for accessible, high-quality cancer care across the region.
The Path Forward
A City Executive Committee, supported by a dedicated City Manager, will oversee the initiative, ensuring that solutions are co-created with the community and grounded in local realities. Doctors, nurses, policymakers, and patients will have a role in building a health system that is inclusive, effective, and sustainable.
Adv. Minimol. V K, Mayor of Kochi, captured what that means in practice:
We are extremely happy that a major collaboration among 30+ cancer-care services in our Kochi city is becoming a reality as C/Can Kochi. Together, we can build an efficient system that leaves no patient behind. A mother coming to Kochi will no longer fear that treatment is beyond her reach; instead, a cancer diagnosis will be met with better solutions than despair.
The work ahead is ambitious. But with a committed coalition, a clear roadmap, and a city ready to lead, Kochi has everything it needs to show what city-driven cancer care can achieve.
Kochi is the 19th city and the fifth Asian city to join the growing C/Can network alongside Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Quezon City (Philippines), Greater Petaling (Malaysia) and Yangon (Myanmar).
