As some of you may know that in my volunteer work, after 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚, I was also appointed as advisor to 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐛 via member of esteemed State Expert Oncology Committee.

This week the project has started as we met in Chandigarh (India). It is a privilege to work along with nation’s top oncologists, policy makers, economists and senior officials of the Punjab government, to collaborate on developing and formulating a 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 for establishing Standard Treatment Protocols for common 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 in Punjab.

I was part of 𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 panel. We had very engaging discussions and I have advocated & secure principal consent that lung cancer (including 𝐀𝐋𝐊 & 𝐄𝐆𝐅𝐑 lung cancer which constitutes approx 40% of lung cancer in India) be part of Punjab government schemes including affordable quality 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 and treatment plan, 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 & 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭, and to create government awareness program on lung cancer & stigma associated with it.

The work will continue to get this implemented on the ground. I’m hopeful that these efforts will yield significant benefits for cancer patients in Punjab and India.

#PatientAdvocacy #PublicHealth #CancerCare