JAMMU, FEBRUARY 18: In a major move to strengthen cancer prevention and treatment services, the Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department of Jammu and Kashmir is preparing a comprehensive "Cancer Control Strategy for J&K" in partnership with NITI Aayog, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Punjab — a unit of the Tata Memorial Centre.
The proposed strategy aims to create a well-structured and coordinated framework for cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, palliative care, and research throughout the Union Territory. It seeks to optimize existing healthcare infrastructure, enhance tertiary care services, and strengthen human resource capacity through collaboration with leading national institutions.
A major highlight of the initiative is the planned rollout of a Population-Based Cancer Registry. This will facilitate evidence-based planning, improve surveillance systems, and ensure better management of cancer cases across Jammu and Kashmir.
To advance this initiative, a high-level meeting was convened under the chairmanship of Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Dr. Abid Rasheed Shah. The meeting focused on developing a strategic roadmap for cancer prevention, screening, and care in the region.
Among those present were Dr. Ashish Gulia from the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Punjab, along with senior doctors and cancer care experts from Jammu and Kashmir.
During the discussions, Dr. Gulia emphasized the urgency of establishing a clear and actionable roadmap to address the rising burden of cancer. He highlighted the importance of strengthening tertiary care facilities, bridging human resource gaps, promoting research initiatives with measurable outcomes, expanding public health camps, and scaling up palliative care services.
The Secretary, H&ME Department, called for a comprehensive gap analysis across healthcare institutions to develop a time-bound action plan, particularly focusing on Government Medical Colleges and District Hospitals. He emphasized the need for focused training and capacity building of healthcare professionals, along with enhanced research activities at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Government Medical College Jammu, and Government Medical College Srinagar, in close coordination with the Tata Memorial Centre. A Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) has been assigned to oversee the implementation process.
Highlighting the importance of preventive healthcare, the Secretary stressed strengthening the Department of Preventive and Community Medicine as the central pillar for effective cancer prevention strategies and screening programs. He also advocated for expanding the existing Memorandum of Understanding between Tata Memorial Hospital and Government Medical College Jammu and exploring similar collaborations across other medical institutions in Jammu and Kashmir.
The proposed Cancer Control Strategy is expected to significantly improve cancer care delivery in the Union Territory through a coordinated, evidence-driven, and patient-centric approach.