Srinagar: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Monday reviewed the formulation of a comprehensive Cancer Care Strategy for Jammu and Kashmir aimed at strengthening prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care across the Union Territory.
The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Health and Medical Education Department, Director SKIMS, Mission Director National Health Mission (NHM), principals of government medical colleges, representatives of the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) and other experts.
According to an official statement, the proposed strategy envisages an integrated framework covering cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, research, capacity building and digital health interventions.
Dulloo described cancer as a growing public health challenge and directed the Health Department to implement the roadmap in a phased and time-bound manner through effective coordination, regular monitoring and measurable outcomes.
He stressed the need to strengthen preventive oncology services, expand diagnostic and treatment facilities across government medical colleges and build specialist manpower, including Radiation Safety Officer-certified personnel, while upgrading medical equipment and infrastructure.
The Chief Secretary also directed expert committees constituted under the strategy to prepare detailed implementation plans, which will be examined by an apex committee headed by Tata Memorial Centre Director Dr Sudeep Gupta to ensure technical feasibility and effective execution.
The meeting was informed that a Steering Committee-cum-State Cancer Registry Coordination Unit has already been constituted to establish Population-Based and Hospital-Based Cancer Registries across Jammu and Kashmir. Following the notification declaring cancer a notifiable disease in the Union Territory, the government is also pursuing a memorandum of understanding with the ICMR-National Institute of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology for technical support in developing a modern cancer registry system.
Officials said the strategy proposes establishing molecular oncology laboratories in government medical colleges, expanding cancer imaging facilities, strengthening radiotherapy and surgical oncology services, and creating additional bone marrow and stem cell transplant facilities.
The roadmap also includes large-scale awareness campaigns through print, electronic and digital media, educational institutions, Panchayati Raj Institutions and community platforms to promote cancer awareness, screening and early detection.
According to the statement, the strategy aims to create an integrated cancer care system to improve survival outcomes and ensure equitable access to quality oncology services across Jammu and Kashmir.
