State-wide Oral Cancer Surveillance Initiative

• 20 May 2026

On 19th May 2026, a major state-wide initiative to strengthen early detection of oral cancer was launched in Kerala.

• The programme is being implemented under CanWin, spearheaded by the Indian Dental Association with support from VPS Lakeshore Hospital, the Chittilappilly Foundation and other healthcare partners.
• The initiative includes the Oral Lesion Surveillance Program (OLSP), which aims to convert nearly 6,500 dental clinics across Kerala into early oral cancer detection centres.
• The programme focuses on structured screening, documentation and referral systems to improve early diagnosis of oral cancer cases.
• According to experts, oral cancer accounts for nearly 30 per cent of all cancer cases reported in India, with over 70 per cent diagnosed only at advanced stages.