Cancer is the biggest business in India: B M Hegde

Mangaluru: Feb 19: Lamenting that deadly deceases like cancer have become a ‘business’ in India, B M Hegde, a prominent medical scientist and educationist, has urged the people to change their lifestyle to maintain good health rather than depending on treatment after falling ill.

The former vice chancellor of Manipal University was delivering the Foundation Day Lecture at Karnataka Bank Limited (KBL)?head office here.

“People should better change lifestyle on their own, without waiting for the government to promote, as the latter is only interested in funding highly rewarding medicines,” he said.

“Similar is the case with cancer, where 73.4% of cases have common cause in smoking and consumption of alcochol. Yet, the government is not willing to ban such hazardous products.

Thanks to the banks which are funding projects of corporate hospitals that have invaded India in a big way. Reason:?Cancer is the biggest business in the country,” he said.

Prof Hegde, who is known for his no holds barred rhetoric, dwelt on the topic ‘Money, Man and Health’ with alliterations.

Referring to the demonetisation of high-value currency notes, Hegde described how it had brought in peace in the valley which was till then witnessing turbulent times due to frequent stone pelting. It can be summed up as ‘No note, no stone’, he observed.

“It would be better for health, if he or she becomes broad minded with ‘We’ approach rather than preferring to be narrow with ‘I’ only approach,” he felt.