SRINAGAR, JULY 13, 2026: In a significant move to transform the healthcare landscape of Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level meeting today to review the initial formulation of a comprehensive Cancer Care Strategy. Aimed at establishing an integrated, accessible, and technology-driven oncology ecosystem across the Union Territory, the strategy focuses on strengthening cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and advanced treatment. The meeting saw participation from top medical leadership, including the Director of SKIMS, the Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM), the Director of the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) Chandigarh, and Principals of various Government Medical Colleges (GMCs).
Reviewing the roadmap prepared by the Health & Medical Education Department in consultation with national experts, the Chief Secretary emphasized that cancer represents a critical public health challenge requiring a coordinated, patient-centric response. He directed officials to ensure time-bound execution of the strategy through strict monitoring and measurable outcomes. To reduce the burden on patients traveling long distances, Dulloo underscored the need to build a robust preventive oncology framework within all GMCs. This includes a phased capacity-building program to train specialized manpower—such as Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)-certified personnel—alongside the concurrent upgradation of diagnostic and medical equipment across the region.
To ensure technical soundness and an equitable distribution of facilities, expert committees have been tasked with creating detailed execution plans. These will be harmonized by an Apex Committee led by Dr. Sudeep Gupta, Director of TMC Mumbai, leveraging the institution’s premier expertise to adopt national best practices. On the data and surveillance front, NHM Mission Director Akriti Sagar revealed that a Steering Committee-cum-State Cancer Registry Coordination Unit is already working to establish Population-Based and Hospital-Based Cancer Registries. Following the notification of cancer as a notifiable disease in J&K, the government is finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the ICMR-National Institute of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology in Bengaluru for technical backing.
The strategy also maps out extensive structural upgrades across existing hubs like the State Cancer Institute at GMC Jammu, SKIMS Soura, GMC Srinagar, AIIMS Vijaypur, and district-level daycare chemotherapy units. Planned diagnostic enhancements include the setup of advanced Molecular Oncology Laboratories utilizing next-generation sequencing and genomic profiling, with funding proposals already submitted to the ICMR under the DiaMONDs Project. Furthermore, the UT will see a phased expansion of imaging assets—such as PET-CT scanners, mammography units, and MRI facilities—alongside upgraded radiotherapy infrastructure and new Bone Marrow Transplant units. This medical expansion will be paired with aggressive community awareness campaigns spanning digital media, schools, and Panchayati Raj Institutions to promote early screening and healthy lifestyles, ultimately building an integrated continuum of care for the people of Jammu & Kashmir.