Annual meeting of National Cancer Grid held

The National Cancer Grid, a ready network of currently 85 cancer centres, research institutes, has announced the creation of Travelling School of Pathology and setting up of National Virtual Tumour Board among other decisions in the field of cancer care during its 6th annual meeting here.
The two-day meeting, held last week at the Tata Memorial Centre, saw a gathering of 100 participants from 85 centres wherein major announcements were made including drafting 22 guidelines for the most common cancers in India and establishing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Peer Review of network centres, a statement issued by Tata Memorial Centre, said.

Some of major announcements included, creation of a Travelling School of Pathology aiming to provide high quality training in cancer centres; strong recommendation for creation of a basic Palliative Care centre in each cancer centre with minimum basic infrastructure; establishment of National Virtual Tumour Board with a critical mass of experts.
Establishment of a national cancer library that will now provide free access to over 100 cancer journals to every member.
"Providing equitable, accessible and affordable cancer care is a prime objective of the National Cancer Grid and we are working towards making the same standards of cancer care available at patient' doorsteps," Dr R A Badwe, the Director of Tata Memorial Centre, said.

Tata Trusts, an integral member of the Grid, will therefore ensure development and delivery of these tools with the aim of enabling all practitioners in these 85 member units to enhance their skills and contribute to cutting edge research to combat the disease more effectively, it added.
The meeting was attended by directors of over 80 cancer centres, research institutes, patient groups and charitable organisations with the participation of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical research, as advisor.