GMC Kathua To Start MD This Year, Upgrade Cancer Facility Through Tata Mumbai: Dr Jitendra

KATHUA : The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office, Jitendra Singh, on Saturday announced that the Day Care Cancer Centre at Government Medical College (GMC) Kathua, established under the aegis of Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai will be upgraded. He said the initiative will include the installation of state-of-the-art radiotherapy equipment to provide advanced radiation treatment to cancer patients locally. He said this would reduce the need for patients to travel to distant metropolitan centres.
The Minister was speaking after presiding over a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at GMC, Kathua between the two institutions, marking a significant step towards strengthening healthcare infrastructure and research capabilities in the region.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the Government’s commitment to improving access to advanced healthcare services in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that capacity building will be a key component of the partnership, with surgeons and medical professionals from GMC, Kathua receiving specialized training in cancer surgery and oncology care from experts at Tata Memorial Centre. Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that the initiative will not only improve patient care but also contribute to early diagnosis and timely treatment of cancer cases in the region.
In another important development, an MoU was signed between GMC, Kathua and CSIR Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM). The Minister noted that CSIR-IIIM, Jammu is engaged in advanced research in areas such as drug resistance in tuberculosis and development of interventions for boosting immunity.He stated that the collaboration will pave the way for joint research projects addressing critical public challenges. The partnership will also foster academic cooperation between the two institutions, including joint MD thesis.
MLA Kathua, Dr Bharat Bhushan; MLA Jasrota. Rajiv Jasrotia; Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Rajesh Sharma; SSP, Kathua Mohita Sharma, Principal, GMC Kathua, Dr SuinderAttri, Dr Ashish Gulia, Director, HomiBhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Mohali and Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, Jammu were present during the MoU signing ceremony.
Dr. Jitendra Singh further informed that the MoU between GMC and CSIR-IIIM will facilitate joint academic programmes, including postgraduate research, and will support MD thesis work in pharmacology and medicine. This will provide medical students and researchers with greater exposure to interdisciplinary research and access to advanced scientific resources.
Highlighting the importance of such collaborations, the Minister said that convergence between medical institutions and premier research organizations is essential for translating scientific research into clinical applications. He expressed confidence that these partnerships will significantly contribute to strengthening the healthcare delivery system and promoting innovation-driven medical research in the Union Territory.
On the occasion, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated a library at GMC, Kathua. Highlighting that all academic journals are now accessible under the “One Nation One Subscription” initiative, the Minister urged students to fully utilise the facility to advance their academic and research pursuits.The Minister also laid the foundation stone for the 150 KLD Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in the college campus on a turnkey basis. The project aims to strengthen environmental management and ensure proper treatment of waste generated within the institution.