Tata Memorial Hospital launches specialised cancer care training programme for BIMSTEC nations

Tata Memorial Hospital launched a special cancer care training programme for BIMSTEC countries. 21 participants from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal will train in Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiology, aiming to boost regional healthcare skills and cooperation

Mumbai: Tata Memorial Hospital, with the aim of capacity building and skill enhancement, on Monday launched a specialised training programme in cancer care for BIMSTEC countries.

A total of 21 participants from four countries will be trained in three modules like Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiology. This initiative will not only help in improving cancer care but also will help to establish a network for further collaboration and research among BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technology and Economic Cooperation) countries, CSR Ram, Joint Secretary, BIMSTEC and SAARC, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said at the launch event.

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This training initiative brings together 21 participants from BIMSTEC countries, comprising four from Bangladesh, six each from Bhutan and Myanmar as well as five from Nepal. Initially, 4-week training will be imparted in three modules including Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiology. However, it will expand going forward,” he said.

“As of now we have got a proposal from TMC on 12 modules, of which three are being implemented in the first phase. After this we will decide on how to take this initiative forward and which modules to include. The decision on whether this programme will be quarterly, every six months or annually is yet to be taken,” he added. BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

“BIMSTEC, though founded more than 25 years ago, has taken the concrete steps of regional integration only in recent years. In the 2022 Summit in Colombo, we adopted the BIMSTEC Charter. Since then, we are taking a number of efforts and initiatives to strengthen the dialogue. India has been taking a number of initiatives, especially in the areas of institution and capacity building,” Ram said.

“We will be establishing world-class centres of excellence in various areas. To start with, we are establishing centres of excellence in disaster management cooperation, cooperation in the areas of agricultural technologies and skills, in sustainable maritime connectivity, and also to strengthen our cooperation in the areas of traditional medicine and health.

Our initiatives cover a whole spectrum of connectivity, which is at the core of any regional cooperation,” he added. TMC Director Dr Sudeep Gupta, who was present on the occasion, said this training programme is an intensive four-week onsite one focused on critical domains of cancer care as a part of health initiatives of BIMSTEC.

“Three specialised modules are being conducted concurrently in TMC’s Mumbai centres, offering advanced, hands-on exposure to cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Subsequently, training programs for participants will also be scheduled at nine operational Tata Memorial Centre units spread across the country,” Gupta added.