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  • 29 Mar 2026

J&K forms four committees to prepare action plan for cancer care

Mansoor Peer 

Srinagar, Mar 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department has constituted four committees for preparation of an action plan for comprehensive cancer Care in the Union Territory amid a huge burden of cancer cases that continue to rise each year.

A senior health official said the first committee named Committee for Curative Services has been tasked develop recommendations in its domain, comprising Dr Sandeep Gupta, Director, Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai as Chairperson, Secretary H&ME, J&K as Convener, Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Principal, GMC Jammu as Member, Dr Ashish Gulia, Director, Tata Memorial Centre, Chandigarh as Member, and Dr Yashpal Sharma, Executive Director SMVDIME as Member.

The committee will prepare an action plan to strengthen curative cancer care and recommend a framework for developing organised cancer centres within existing tertiary institutions.

The panel will assess oncology infrastructure and resources, and recommend measures to strengthen radiation, medical, surgical, and diagnostic services.

It has been tasked to suggest institutional linkages with national institutions, propose standardised treatment pathways along with multidisciplinary tumour boards and referral mechanisms, facilitate public-private partnerships to expand access, promote tele-medicine and tele-oncology by strengthening digital infrastructure and training.

The second committee on Palliative Care will be chaired by Dr Ashish Gulia, with Dr Ashutosh Gupta as Member and Dr Rohit Lohori, Consultant Anaesthesiologist at Gandhi Nagar Hospital Jammu, as Convener.

The panel will assess palliative care services, recommend strengthening units, improve pain management and access to medicines, promote community and home-based care, suggest training, study the Kerala model, and integrate palliative care into overall cancer care.

The third committee on Strengthening Preventive Oncology for Behaviour Change and Communication will be chaired by Dr Ashish Gulia, with the Mission Director NHM J&K, Dr Mohammad Salim Khan (Convener), Directors of Health Services Kashmir and Jammu, Director Family Welfare & Immunisation, and Dr Syed Nisar Ahmad as members.

The committee will recommend preventive oncology strategies, develop an IEC framework for awareness and early detection, promote risk reduction and HPV vaccination, integrate efforts with public health programmes, and contribute to the J&K Cancer Care Action Plan.

The fourth one - the task force for Cancer Screening under Ayushman Aarogya Mandir - will comprise Commissioner/Secretary, H&ME, Mission Director NHM J&K, Head, SPM GMC Srinagar, Head, SPM GMC Jammu, Director Health Services Kashmir/Jammu.

The committee will oversee cancer screening programmes, standardise protocols and referrals, integrate services with Health & Wellness Centres, train frontline workers, promote awareness, ensure data monitoring, and meet bi-monthly for review.

All committees have been directed to submit their recommendations/action plans within four weeks. They may co-opt experts or consult stakeholders as required.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare revealed that cancer cases in Jammu & Kashmir have shown a steady rise over the last five years, increasing from 12,726 cases in 2020 to 13,060 in 2021, 13,395 in 2022, 13,744 in 2023, and reaching 14,112 in 2024.

 

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