Along the sidelines of her Official visit to Hyderabad to see firsthand the initiatives undertaken by Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust in Hyderabad, Her Royal Highness, The Countess of Wessex met with Dr. P. Raghu Ram, President elect of The Association of Surgeons of India on 30 April 2019. She complimented him for relocating to India at a time when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and commended him for replicating the best of British Breast healthcare practice guidelines in India, thus serving as a “living bridge” between UK and India.

Her Excellency listened keenly to the landmark initiatives implemented by Dr. Raghu Ram over the past 12 years to improve the delivery of breast healthcare in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
KIMS-USHALAKSHMI Centre for Breast Diseases, which is South Asia’s first free standing purpose built Breast Centre is one such initiative which was established mirrored upon the world renowned “Breast Unit” concept in the National Health Service of UK, thus bringing about a revolutionary change - Breast Centre Concept in the Indian Subcontinent.

The innovative initiatives undertaken over the past decade by Ushalakshmi Breast Cancer Foundation (a not for profit breast cancer charity) in partnership with Breast Cancer Care UK, which is UK’s largest breast cancer Charity has transformed breast cancer from a “taboo” issue to a much commonly discussed one in the region, thus ensuring the much needed awareness about early detection of breast cancer.

The Countess of Wessex also appreciated Dr. Raghu Ram for taking the initiative to bring together surgeons practicing Breast surgery under one umbrella organisation through the formation of The Association of Breast Surgeons of India along the lines of the world renowned Association of Breast Surgeons in the UK, which aims to standardise the delivery of breast healthcare in the Country.