57O - Strengthening public policy and patient advocacy for bone sarcoma survivors in rural India through telemedicine

Background

Bone sarcomas, particularly in underserved rural populations, pose significant challenges, including delayed diagnosis and limited access to specialized care. As a bone sarcoma survivor and Founder of DigiSwasthya Foundation (DS), I aim to address these gaps through innovative telemedicine solutions and advocacy initiatives, ensuring comprehensive care for sarcoma patients and survivors in remote areas.

Methods

DS leverages a telemedicine platform to connect rural sarcoma patients with expert oncologists for timely diagnosis, treatment planning, and survivorship care. A patient-centric approach integrates teleconsultations, psychosocial support, and policy advocacy for rare cancers. Key methods include: Outreach and Awareness: Conducting 1,641+ health camps in rural villages, reaching 69,562+ individuals annually, and raising awareness about rare cancers. Awareness and Outreach: Conducting over 1,200 health camps annually, reaching 65,000 individuals, and educating communities about rare cancers. Early Diagnosis: Implementing telemedicine screenings led to over 400 early cancer consultations, including 20 bone sarcoma cases in the past year. Policy Advocacy: Collaborating with policymakers to incorporate rare cancer management into public health initiatives. Survivorship Care: Offering peer counseling and mental health support to improve patient well-being and treatment adherence.

Results

DigiSwasthya has facilitated 69,641+ teleconsultations, supported early diagnosis for 385 cancer cases, and reduced treatment delays by 40%. Policy advocacy efforts have led to pilot initiatives in two states addressing rare cancer funding. Survivorship programs have improved mental health outcomes for 78% of participants, fostering better quality of life and care continuity.

Conclusions

DS model exemplifies how telemedicine can bridge healthcare gaps for bone sarcoma patients in rural areas. By integrating patient advocacy, early diagnosis, timely referrals, and survivorship care, the model provides a scalable solution to improve outcomes for rare cancer patients globally, emphasizing the importance of policy prioritization for these underserved groups.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

DigiSwasthya Foundation's annual reports, patients database, and website www.digiswasthya.org.

Legal entity responsible for the study

DigiSwasthya Foundation.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

The author has declared no conflicts of interest.