Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a high-level meeting to assess the initial formulation of a comprehensive Cancer Care Strategy for the Union Territory aimed at creating an integrated, accessible and technology-enabled cancer care ecosystem across Jammu & Kashmir.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Director, SKIMS; Mission Director, National Health Mission; Director, Tata Memorial Centre (TMC),Chandigarh; Principals of Government Medical Colleges; Director, Health Services, Kashmir/Jammu; Faculty Members of GMCsand other senior officers of the Health & Medical Education Department.
The strategy, prepared by the Health & Medical Education Department in consultation with leading oncology experts and national institutions, envisages a holistic framework covering cancer prevention, early detection, screening, diagnosis, treatment, palliative care, research, capacity building and digital health interventions.
Reviewing the proposed roadmap, the Chief Secretary observed that cancer is emerging as a major public health challenge and called for a coordinated, evidence-based and patient-centric response to improve health outcomes across the Union Territory. He directed the department to ensure time-bound implementation of all proposed interventions through effective institutional coordination, regular monitoring and measurable outcomes.
The Chief Secretary underscored the importance of establishing a robust preventive oncology framework across all Government Medical Colleges in the Union Territory to promote early detection and timely intervention against cancer. He stressed the need for simultaneously strengthening both human resource capacity and the requisite healthcare infrastructure so that quality diagnostic and treatment facilities are made available closer to the patients, thereby minimizing the need for travelling to distant facilities.
He directed the Health Department to undertake a phased capacity-building programme by training the required specialist manpower, including Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)-certified personnel, while concurrently upgrading the necessary medical equipment and infrastructure in all medical colleges. He observed that these interventions would significantly enhance the quality and accessibility of cancer care services across Jammu & Kashmir.
The Chief Secretary further instructed that the entire strategy should be implemented in a well-defined, phase-wise manner over the coming years to ensure equitable distribution of oncology facilities across the Union Territory. He also directed each of the expert committees constituted under the Cancer Care Strategy to prepare detailed, time-bound implementation plans within their respective domains.
He said that these implementation plans should be examined and harmonised by the Apex Committee chaired by Dr. Sudeep Gupta, Director, Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai and other experts here to ensure their technical soundness, feasibility and effective execution.
Highlighting the strategic collaboration with the Tata Memorial Centre, the Chief Secretary observed that the partnership with one of the country's premier cancer care institutions would provide invaluable technical guidance, facilitate adoption of national best practices and significantly accelerate the implementation of the Cancer Care Strategy on the ground, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes across Jammu & Kashmir
The meeting was informed by MD, NHM, Akriti Sagar that a Steering Committee-cum-State Cancer Registry Coordination Unit has already been constituted to establish a robust Population-Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) and Hospital-Based Cancer Registry (HBCR) network across Jammu & Kashmir.
She added that the initiative would facilitate systematic collection of cancer incidence data, strengthen disease surveillance and support evidence-based planning under the National Cancer Registry Programme.
The MD further informed that following the notification declaring cancer as a notifiable disease in the Union Territory, the Government has initiated the process for executing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE), Bengaluru, for technical support in establishing a modern cancer registry system here.
The meeting also reviewed the existing oncology infrastructure available in the Union Territory, including the State Cancer Institute at Government Medical College Jammu, SKIMS Soura, Government Medical College Srinagar, AIIMS Vijaypur, newly established Government Medical Colleges and district-level Day Care Chemotherapy Centres established under the National Health Mission.
To strengthen diagnostic capabilities, the strategy proposes establishment of advanced Molecular Oncology Laboratories across Government Medical Colleges equipped with modern technologies including molecular pathology, immunohistochemistry, genomic profiling and next-generation sequencing.
The meeting was apprised that proposals have already been submitted to ICMR under the DiaMONDs Project for establishment of molecular oncology laboratories in selected medical colleges while additional funding support is being explored for expansion across the UT.
The strategy also recommends augmentation of cancer imaging facilities through phased establishment of mammography units, PET-CT scanners, MRI facilities, gamma cameras and endoscopy services to ensure timely diagnosis and improve early detection of various cancers.
The Chief Secretary reviewed proposals for strengthening cancer treatment services through expansion of radiotherapy infrastructure, enhancement of surgical oncology services, establishment of additional Bone Marrow Transplant and Stem Cell Transplant facilities and creation of multidisciplinary oncology teams across major tertiary healthcare institutions.
The meeting further reviewed proposals for extensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns through print, electronic and digital media, schools, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Anganwadi Centres and community-based platforms to promote awareness regarding cancer risk factors, warning signs, screening services and healthy lifestyle practices.
As proposed the Cancer Care Strategy seeks to build an integrated continuum of care covering prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care and research, with the ultimate objective of reducing cancer burden, improving survival outcomes and ensuring equitable access to quality oncology services for the people of Jammu & Kashmir.