Dr Reddy's Laboratories has launched its fifth Breast Cancer Helpline at the Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai in association with Helping Hand, a Mumbai-based NGO. Inaugurated by Shatrughan Sinha, union minister for health and family welfare, today, this Helpline would serve as an information-disseminating medium and aims to increase awareness on breast cancer. With this helpline service any person having queries on the causes, prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of the disease can call up on the help line center, where highly trained medical professionals are manned round the clock.

While launching the Breast Cancer Helpline, the Health Minister said that it is very encouraging and heartening to see private participation in bringing about social change in the country where we desperately need such initiatives to reach good healthcare to the people.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr Anji Reddy, chairman, Dr Reddy's Lab and Dr Reddy's Research Foundation, said, "With over 80,000 new cases every year the incidence of breast cancer is growing at an alarming rate in India. Hence it has become imperative for health institutions and pharmaceutical companies to join forces in the fight against this deadly disease."

At the opening ceremony of the Helpline, Dr. S H Advani, founder chairman, Helping Hand, M K Chinrai, managing trustee, Jaslok Hospital and L G Murali, general manager, Critical Care Division, Dr Reddy's Lab, were also present.