Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 4: A significant milestone in cancer management was reached today with the introduction of the Cancer Policy for Jammu and Kashmir at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu.
The policy was launched at a one-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) event hosted by the Department of Radiation Oncology, GMC Jammu, in partnership with ‘BCPBF The Cancer Foundation’ and the newly formed organization ‘Friends of GMC Jammu.’
The inauguration ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Dr Farooq Abdullah (former chief minister of J&K), Sakina Masood Itoo (Minister for Health and Medical Education), Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah (Secretary, Health and Medical Education), Dr Sameer Kaul (a prominent oncologist in India), Dr Ashraf Ganie (Director SKIMS), and Dr Pavan Malhotra (Director Principal, ASCOMS).
The Cancer Policy was skillfully developed by Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Principal GMC Jammu and a distinguished oncologist, and was officially presented at the CME, which featured contributions from leading oncologists nationwide. Key speakers included Dr Rakesh Jalali (Apollo Hospital Chennai), Dr Dipenjan Panda (Apollo Hospital Delhi), Dr Anusheel Munshi (Delhi), Dr Vijay Patil (Mumbai), and Dr Vimal Pandita (Dehradun). The event successfully gathered over 500 delegates from Jammu and Kashmir and beyond.
The newly unveiled cancer policy aims to enhance screening for various cancers, including head and neck, breast, lung, cervical, prostate, and colon cancers. It suggests implementing the cervical cancer vaccine within the Universal Immunization Program and requires the establishment of oncology services, including chemotherapy and surgical oncology, in all new medical colleges, in alignment with NMC guidelines. Furthermore, it emphasizes upgrading tertiary care institutions like SKIMS, GMC Jammu, and GMC Srinagar with advanced facilities such as radiation oncology, PET scans, and molecular oncology laboratories. The policy also highlights the necessity for expanding palliative care services to all district hospitals and contemplates restrictions or bans on tobacco products to reduce cancer rates.
In his keynote address, Dr Farooq Abdullah highlighted that cancer care encompasses not just medical, surgical, and radiation treatments but also social, psychological, and economic dimensions. He urged healthcare providers to support cancer patients with compassion and to communicate transparently to build trust between doctors, patients, and their families.
Sakina Itoo, in her remarks, reflected on the enduring legacy of late Dr Sheikh Abdullah, who laid the foundation for GMC Jammu in 1982. She reaffirmed the Government’s dedication to raising medical standards in J&K to match national benchmarks. Additionally, she underlined the importance of early education about cancer, advocating for awareness initiatives at school and college levels to prevent the disease from taking hold.
Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah emphasized the necessity of creating awareness about cancer at educational institutions. He also urged faculty members to prioritize original, collaborative research alongside healthcare delivery.
