To enhance women’s healthcare, Punjab Government signs MoU with Yuvraj Singh YouWeCan Foundation
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ April 26,2025
In a significant step towards enhancing women’s healthcare, Punjab Government has signed a a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yuvraj Singh YouWeCan Foundation to roll out a comprehensive breast cancer screening program in Moga district. The MoU was signed in the presence of Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh.
This collaborative effort, under the Swasth Mahila Swasth Bharat (SMSB) initiative, aims to tackle the alarming burden of breast cancer in the state through early detection, awareness, and timely access to care.
Citing alarming national statistics, Dr Balbir Singh stressed the urgency of the initiative. “Every four minutes, a woman in India is diagnosed with breast cancer, and every eight minutes, one loses her life to this disease. Punjab is determined to change this trajectory through proactive healthcare measures,” he said.
Emphasising the government’s commitment to the program, the Health Minister affirmed, “Our partnership with the YouWeCan Foundation and the implementation of the SMSB program in Moga marks a significant milestone in our efforts to strengthen our non-communicable disease control framework. We are dedicated to ensuring that women in Moga have access to state-of-the-art screening technologies and timely care.”
The SMSB program of the YouWecan Foundation (CSR partner Xiaomi Technology India Private Limited) will leverage a multi-pronged approach which includes key components such as community awareness campaigns, training on self-breast examination, screening using the innovative iBE Device, referral linkages for diagnosis, a technology-driven monitoring system, and capacity building for healthcare workers.
Speaking about the impact of early detection, the Health Minister emphasised, “The data clearly shows that early detection dramatically improves survival rates and reduces treatment costs. It is unacceptable that 70% of breast cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced stages. Through this initiative, we aim to shift that paradigm in Moga, ensuring more women are diagnosed at earlier, more treatable stages.”
The Health Minister concluded with a strong message of hope and commitment, “By working together with the YouWeCan Foundation, we are confident that we can make a real difference in the lives of women in Moga. Our goal is to save lives, reduce the burden of late-stage diagnoses, and ultimately create a healthier future for all women in Punjab. This MoU is a testament to our unwavering commitment to women’s health and well-being.”
Dr Balbir Singh said that the program will focus on establishing dedicated breast health screening services in Moga, integrating SMSB protocols into the state’s existing NCD control programs, and ensuring healthcare providers are well-trained to handle breast cancer cases effectively. Collaboration with public health authorities and community awareness campaigns will be central to the initiative’s success.
Meanwhile, two other MoUs were also signed on this occasion in the presence of Health Minister. The MoU includes Swasth Digital Health Foundation for establishment of Primary Care Innovation Unit under which Swasth Alliance will support the establishment of a Primary Care Innovation Unit within the Department of Health and Family Welfare through which innovative solutions can be piloted in the State.
Another MoU regarding palliative care with Cansupport organisation was signed, through which the organisation will support the Department of Health in the Implementation of State Palliative Care Policy in the state of Punjab.
To enhance women’s healthcare, Punjab Government signs MoU with Yuvraj Singh YouWeCan Foundation.The key officials present on the occasion included Principal Secretary Health Kumar Rahul, Special Secretary Health-cum-MD, NHM Ghanshyam Thori, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr. Hitinder Kaur, Director Health Services (Family Welfare) Dr Jasminder, Assistant Director cum State Program Officer (NP-NCD) Dr Gagandeep Singh Grover, Assistant Director Dr Balwinder Kaur.
