New Delhi, Dec. 16 -- At 40, when Medha began experiencing persistent abdominal pain and irregular bleeding, she assumed hormonal changes. Only during her third visit to the gynecologist, was she finally made to conduct a pap smear, resulting in a diagnosis of Stage III cervical cancer. Despite her education and access to information, routine preventive screening had remained out of reach or worse, out of mind.

In a country where there are just two medical oncologists for one million people, compared to 20-25 per million in the U.S., finding the right specialist was a maze of confusion and contradictions. Every 60 days without treatment doubled the costs and raised her risk of death. From juggling appointments and long commutes to managi...