The National Cancer Grid (NCG) held its 2025 annual meeting on 2nd and 3rd August at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. The NCG is a collaborative network comprising over 380 cancer centres, research institutes, patient groups, and professional societies across India and 15 other countries. It is funded by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India. NCG member organisations collectively treat more than 860,000 new cancer patients each year, accounting for 60 per cent of India’s total cancer cases.
The annual meeting served as a platform to review NCG’s ongoing initiatives, discuss new strategies, and strengthen global cooperation in cancer care. Over 300 professionals from cancer centres, research institutions, government bodies, and voluntary organisations participated in the two-day event.
Sessions covered a range of focus areas, including the revision of cancer management guidelines, implementation of quality assurance and quality improvement programmes, cost-effective cancer research models, and the integration of digital and AI-based tools in healthcare. The meeting also provided NCG member organisations with an opportunity to gain deeper understanding of cancer control activities under the Grid.
One of the significant developments highlighted at the meeting was the successful negotiation with pharmaceutical companies, resulting in an average 85 per cent discount on the Maximum Retail Price of cancer drugs. This initiative has reduced the financial burden of cancer care while ensuring drug quality and improving supply chain access for remote hospitals.
Senior representatives from the National Health Authority, including Joint Secretary Jyoti Yadav and Director (Convergence) Dr Pankaj Arora, attended the meeting. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) was represented by Additional Secretary and CEO of IndiaAI, Abhishek Singh, and COO IndiaAI, Kavita Bhatia. Officials from the Armed Forces Medical Services, Surgeon Vice-Admiral Arti Sarin and Surgeon Rear Admiral Vivek Hande, were also present.
The meeting featured international participation from 30 leaders across 17 countries. These delegates included Dr Eric Small, President, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO); Dr Julie Gralow, Chief Medical Officer, ASCO; Walter Birch, Division Director of Care Delivery, ASCO; Dr Satish Gopal, Director, National Cancer Institute Center for Global Health, USA; Dr Isaac Alatise, Vice-President (West Africa), African Organisation for Research and Training in Africa (AORTIC); and Dr Ngalla Calvin, Vice-President (Central Africa), AORTIC.
The presence of international delegates followed the implementation of the 10-point agenda announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on 10th October 2024. In partnership with the Indian Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta and the Ministry of External Affairs, the NCG invited cancer specialists and policy makers from ASEAN Member States. Fourteen delegates from six ASEAN nations attended the event. This meeting marked the second of five annual ASEAN-India collaborations supported by the ASEAN-India Fund. Additionally, nine senior cancer physicians and policy makers from three BIMSTEC countries participated.
During the meeting, the National Cancer Grid presented NCG Lifetime Achievement Awards to four professionals in recognition of their contributions to cancer control. The recipients were Prof Rajendra Badwe, surgical oncologist and former Director, Tata Memorial Centre; Prof G K Rath, radiation oncologist and former Head, National Cancer Institute, Jhajjar; Dr Suresh Advani, medical oncologist and former Professor, Tata Memorial Hospital; and Prof Julie Gralow, medical oncologist and Chief Medical Officer, ASCO.
The 2025 NCG Annual Meeting reaffirmed the Grid’s commitment to equitable, high-quality, and affordable cancer care—both within India and across global regions with similar challenges. It underscored India’s leadership in fostering international collaboration in cancer control and set the stage for deeper multilateral engagement in the years to come.