HIDDEN NEWS DESK
Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), organized a two-day Co-Development and Proposal Development Workshop, aimed at strengthening cancer prevention, screening, and survival rates across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
The joint initiative focused on four major cancers—breast, oral, cervical, and gastric—aiming to establish robust population-level screening, early detection, and streamlined referral pathways. Led by Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, Principal & Dean of GMC Jammu, and Dr. Jyotsna Suri, HOD Pathology and Nodal Officer, Multi-Disciplinary Research Unit, GMC Jammu, the workshop brought together national experts, policymakers, medical specialists, and researchers. Prominent ICMR representatives and oncology experts—including Dr. Nisha Jose, Dr. Pramit Ghosh, Dr. Bhawana Sirohi (BALCO Medical Centre), Dr. Supriya Malik (NCI Jhajjar), and Dr. Biswajit Dubashi (JIPMER)—deliberated on practical, locally adaptable interventions to bridge implementation gaps in healthcare delivery.
A specialized session on Data Management and the REDCap Platform, conducted by Dr. Pulkit Verma from ICMR Headquarters, emphasized establishing robust data monitoring systems to track intervention success and ensure reliable evidence generation.
The workshop developed integrated strategies for population-level screening and early detection of major cancers, optimizing local health-system resources to establish efficient referral and care-continuum networks.
The key outcomes aim to:
Expand population-based screening and early diagnosis for breast, oral, cervical, and gastric cancers.
Improve referral pathways, care management, and treatment survival for breast cancer patients.
Upgrade data tracking platforms and enhance institutional collaboration between research institutions, administrative departments, and clinical centers across J&K and Ladakh.
By translating medical research into practical healthcare interventions, the joint initiative marks a significant step toward improving early detection, care accessibility, and overall survival rates for cancer patients across the region.
