Apollo Hospitals has taken a pioneering step in women’s healthcare with the launch of Apollo Athenaa, Asia’s first dedicated cancer centre exclusively for women. The centre was inaugurated in Delhi by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, alongside Apollo leadership and dignitaries including Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Founder-Chairman of Apollo Hospitals Group; Bansuri Swaraj, Member of Parliament; Neeraj Basoya, MLA; Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd (AHEL); and Harshad Reddy, Director, Group Oncology, AHEL.
At the event, CM Rekha Gupta highlighted the significance of the initiative, stating that cancer care for women must go beyond medical treatment to ensure dignity, privacy, and empowerment. “Apollo Athenaa is a milestone in cancer care that strengthens our commitment to women’s health,” she said.
The need for a women-focused cancer facility is underscored by national and global data. According to the ICMR-National Cancer Registry Programme, breast and cervical cancers remain the most common among Indian women. The GLOBOCAN 2022 report further revealed that 54% of all cancer cases in Indian women are linked to cancers that primarily affect women.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Prathap C Reddy described Apollo Athenaa as “a new horizon where cutting-edge science meets compassion”, while reiterating Apollo’s mission to combine medical excellence with humanity.
MP Bansuri Swaraj commended the initiative, noting that it aligns with the government’s policies aimed at strengthening early detection and treatment of cancers. “This benchmark in women-centric cancer care complements India’s national health mission,” she said.
Echoing the sentiment, MLA Neeraj Basoya remarked that the health of women is the foundation of a strong society. “Apollo Athenaa reflects a bold vision to put women at the centre of healthcare priorities,” he said.
Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, described Athenaa not just as a hospital but as a movement for women’s health. “By focusing exclusively on cancers affecting women, Athenaa delivers personalised care, from advanced diagnostics to recovery support always with dignity and empathy at the core,” she added.
Apollo Athenaa thus marks a transformative moment in India’s healthcare landscape, creating a dedicated space where women battling cancer receive world-class treatment tailored to their unique needs.