Hidden News Desk
Jammu and Kashmir government has initiated the formulation of a comprehensive Cancer Care Strategy aimed at creating an integrated, accessible and technology-enabled cancer care ecosystem across the Union Territory.
The strategy was reviewed on Monday at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and attended by senior officials of the Health and Medical Education Department, including Director SKIMS, Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), principals of Government Medical Colleges (GMCs), Directors of Health Services and representatives of the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC).
Prepared in consultation with leading oncology experts and national institutions, the proposed strategy covers cancer prevention, early detection, screening, diagnosis, treatment, palliative care, research, capacity building and digital health interventions.
Describing cancer as an emerging public health challenge, Dulloo called for a coordinated, evidence-based and patient-centric response to improve health outcomes in the Union Territory. He directed the Health Department to ensure time-bound implementation of the proposed interventions through effective institutional coordination and regular monitoring.
The Chief Secretary stressed the need to establish a robust preventive oncology framework across all Government Medical Colleges and strengthen both human resources and healthcare infrastructure so that quality diagnostic and treatment facilities are available closer to patients.
He also directed the department to undertake a phased capacity-building programme by training specialist manpower, including Radiation Safety Officer-certified personnel, while simultaneously upgrading medical equipment and infrastructure in all medical colleges.
Dulloo said the strategy should be implemented in a phased manner to ensure equitable distribution of oncology facilities across Jammu and Kashmir. He also asked expert committees constituted under the strategy to prepare detailed implementation plans, which would be examined by an apex committee headed by Dr. Sudeep Gupta, Director of Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.
Highlighting the collaboration with Tata Memorial Centre, the Chief Secretary said the partnership with one of the country’s premier cancer institutions would provide technical guidance, facilitate adoption of national best practices and accelerate the implementation of the strategy.
Mission Director, NHM, Akriti Sagar informed the meeting that a Steering Committee-cum-State Cancer Registry Coordination Unit has already been constituted to establish a Population-Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) and Hospital-Based Cancer Registry (HBCR) network across Jammu and Kashmir.
She said the initiative would facilitate systematic collection of cancer incidence data, strengthen disease surveillance and support evidence-based planning under the National Cancer Registry Programme.
Sagar further informed that after cancer was declared a notifiable disease in the Union Territory, the government initiated the process of signing 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.
The meeting also reviewed the existing oncology infrastructure, including the State Cancer Institute at Government Medical College Jammu, SKIMS Soura, Government Medical College Srinagar, AIIMS Vijaypur and district-level Day Care Chemotherapy Centres established under the National Health Mission.
To strengthen diagnostic capabilities, the strategy proposes establishing advanced Molecular Oncology Laboratories in Government Medical Colleges equipped with modern technologies, including molecular pathology, immunohistochemistry, genomic profiling and next-generation sequencing.
The strategy also recommends expanding cancer imaging facilities through phased establishment of mammography units, PET-CT scanners, MRI facilities, gamma cameras and endoscopy services to ensure timely diagnosis and early detection of various cancers.
Besides strengthening radiotherapy and surgical oncology services, the proposed roadmap envisages establishing additional Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant facilities and launching extensive awareness campaigns through media, schools and community institutions. The Cancer Care Strategy seeks to build an integrated continuum of care—from prevention and screening to treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care and research—with the ultimate objective of reducing the cancer burden and ensuring equitable access to quality oncology services across Jammu and Kashmir.
