Among this year's Ramon Magsaysay Award recipients is surgical oncologist Ravi Kannan R, who left a prestigious position at Chennai's Adyar Cancer Institute to serve impoverished cancer patients in Assam. Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, a Philippine university professor turned peace negotiator, was also honored for her role in putting an end to Muslim insurgency violence.

Other honorees include London-educated lawyer Korvi Rakshand, who is leading an education movement for underprivileged children in Bangladesh, and East Timor farmer Eugenio Lemos, who uses music to advocate for food security and environmental protection. The Ramon Magsaysay Awards are frequently compared to the Nobel Prize of Asia.

Susanna Afan, president of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation said,

“They are Asia’s torchbearers of hope, illuminating the lives of millions.”

The winners “have offered their respective societies successful and replicable solutions to some of our most pressing challenges and have reminded us all of our common humanity.”

In 2007, Kannan assumed leadership at Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, initially a small institution with 23 staff members. Under his guidance, it has significantly grown, employing over 450 personnel.

Today, the hospital treats approximately 5,000 new cancer patients each year for free or at a reduced cost. According to the awards foundation, hospital teams travel long distances to educate rural patients' families on pain management and palliative care while providing free medications.

Dr Kannan said, “No one should be denied access to treatment due to want of money.”