Dr Jitendra Singh announces DM, MCh courses for Northeast medicos Beginning this academic year, DM and MCh super-specialization courses in Oncology (Cancer) will be introduced at the B. Barooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati. These courses will be conducted under the aegis of Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, through Tata Memorial Cancer Centre, Mumbai which is a constituent institute of Homi Bhabha National Institute. This was announced by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh while delivering the convocation address at the Graduation Ceremony at the Tata Memorial Cancer Centre in Mumbai today where 102 young medicos received DM, MCh and PhD degrees in Oncology and related specialities. Dr Jitendra Singh said he was proud to share the fact that the introduction of these courses in Guwahati is going to take place in quick succession to the inauguration of another institution under the aegis of Department of Atomic Energy, namely, the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) at Bhubaneswar by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi last week. Referring to relatively higher prevalence of cancer in North-Eastern States compared to several other States of the country, Dr Jitendra Singh said this new initiative will provide specialized healthcare to the people of the region, who otherwise have to travel long distance for treatment. Lauding the extraordinary service being offered to the nation by the Tata Memorial Cancer Centre, Dr Jitendra Singh complimented the Centre for having completed 75 years which incidentally coincides with the completion of 60 years of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) which is also located in Mumbai. He said this is a befitting tribute to both, - the founders of the Tata Institute as well as Late Dr Homi Bhabha who founded the BARC and today, the Department of Atomic Energy is also performing several academic and social responsibilities. Dr Jitendra Singh said, the irony is that on the one hand nearly 2/3rd of cancer patients are detected in later stages, while on the other hand, 2/3rd of the cancers are curable, if detected in the early stage. This, he said, calls for extra focus on early detection and management for which the Department of Atomic Energy has also come forward to contribute its resources, he added. Vice Chancellor of Homi Bhabha National Institute, Dr Ravi B. Grover, renowned Cardiac Surgeon Dr Valiathan and Director at the Tata Memorial Cancer Centre, Dr R.K. Sharma also spoke on the occasion.
