Medanta Asks India to ‘Taalo Mat Pehchaano’ with New Oral Cancer Awareness Campaign
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Campaign seeks to help people recognise warning signs of Oral Cancer, understand their risk levels, and seek timely medical advice
Noida, September 11th, 2026: Oral cancer often begins with subtle signs that are easy to miss but important not to ignore. A sore that does not heal, an unusual patch in the mouth, or a wound that persists beyond two weeks may seem minor at first but can be early warning indicators of a serious condition. Through its new awareness campaign, ‘Taalo Mat Pehchaano’, Medanta, one of the largest private multi-specialty tertiary and quaternary care providers in India, seeks to help people recognise these signs early and encourage timely medical consultation before they are dismissed or delayed.
Around 1.4 lakh people per year — which is almost 400 people per day — are diagnosed with oral cancer in India. The ‘Taalo Mat Pehchaano’ campaign highlights key risk factors associated with this condition, including chewing tobacco, smoking, and alcohol consumption, as well as concerns such as poor oral hygiene, oral pre-cancerous lesions, sharp teeth and ill-fitting dentures.
Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman & Managing Director, Medanta, said, “Healthcare institutions have an important role to play in making health conversations part of everyday life. A sore or ulcer in the mouth that persists for two weeks or more can sometimes be a sign of a serious underlying condition. With ‘Taalo Mat Pehchaano’, our intent is to make people more aware of health risks and reach out to doctors in case of wounds that do not heal. When people feel comfortable asking questions, seeking advice and acting before a condition advances, we strengthen not just individual outcomes but the health of communities.”
As part of the initiative, Medanta set up an interactive Oral Cancer Awareness Zone at Medanta Noida, featuring educative material to help people understand their stage of risk. In addition, mobile information vans will travel across high-footfall public spaces, carrying the campaign message and encouraging people to learn about the risk factors associated with oral cancer. In addition, Oral Cancer Awareness Zones will also be set up at select locations, including PSUs and corporate offices. Through these on-ground interventions, Medanta aims to move the conversation around oral cancer from awareness to active recognition and timely action.
Dr. Alok Thakar, Director, Head & Neck Cancer, Medanta Noida, said, “Many people tend to overlook changes in their mouth or delay getting them checked because they do not cause much discomfort in the beginning. This is where awareness becomes important. People should be comfortable discussing even small or unusual changes with a doctor, rather than waiting for them to worsen. With ‘Taalo Mat Pehchaano’, we hope to encourage this simple shift in behaviour and make timely consultation a part of oral health.”
At the heart of the initiative is the S.M.I.L.E. Check, a simple mnemonic designed to make potential warning signs easier to recognise and remember: S for sores and ulcers that don’t heal, M for mouth patches that may appear white or red, I for ill-fitting dentures, L for loose teeth, and E for difficulty in eating. The campaign reinforces this through the ‘2-Week Rule’, which states that if a patch, ulcer, or sore in the mouth persists for more than 14 days, it should not be ignored and must be evaluated by a specialist. Together, these messages aim to address a key challenge in oral cancer awareness—helping people recognise when an apparently small change in the mouth actually warrants medical attention.
Medanta also launched a digital film and a doctor-led informative video about oral cancer on social media platforms, highlighting the importance of recognising changes in the mouth and not waiting for symptoms to become severe before seeking medical advice.
At Medanta, oral cancer care follows a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together ENT and Head & Neck Surgeons, Radiation Oncologists, Medical Oncologists, Dental Practitioners, Nutritionists, and Rehabilitation and Restorative Specialists. This integrated approach supports personalised treatment while addressing different aspects of care including speech, functionality and long-term wellness.
‘Taalo Mat Pehchaano’ builds on Medanta’s previous cancer awareness campaigns, which focused on promoting prevention, early detection and timely action, including initiatives highlighting breast and prostate cancer. Medanta has a dedicated helpline number 88-0000-1068 which enables people to seek medical guidance and connect with exceptional super specialists across Medanta’s network of hospitals in Gurugram, Lucknow, Patna, Indore, Noida and Ranchi.
About Global Health Limited (Medanta)
Founded by Dr. Naresh Trehan, a world-renowned cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgeon who has been awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri, the third- and fourth-highest civilian awards in India, and the Dr. B.C. Roy Award in recognition of his distinguished contribution to medicine.
Global Health Limited (the “Company”) is one of the largest private multi-specialty tertiary care providers operating in the North and East regions of India, with key specialties cardiac science, neurosciences, oncology, digestive and hepatobiliary sciences, orthopedics, liver transplant, and kidney and urology, according to the report titled “An assessment of the healthcare delivery market in India, September 2022” by CRISIL Limited.
Under the “Medanta” brand, the Company has a network of six hospitals currently in operation (Gurgaon, Indore, Ranchi, Lucknow, Patna and Noida). Spanning an area of 5.6 million sq. ft., its operational hospitals have 3,737 installed beds as on June 30, 2026. It also has five upcoming hospitals in Mumbai, Delhi (Pitampura, South Delhi), Guwahati and Varanasi. The Company provides healthcare services in over 30 medical specialties and engages over 2,400+ doctors led by highly experienced department heads.
For more information: Sumantika Choudhury | sumantika.choudhury@medanta.org | 9830056185
