AIIMS Jodhpur Meet Signals Shift Towards Precision Oncology in Public Care

Jodhpur: At a time when India’s cancer burden continues to climb, a two day national conference at AIIMS Jodhpur has turned the spotlight on the next phase of oncology care, one that is more targeted, technology driven and patient specific.

The conference, titled Nextgen Oncology, has brought together clinicians, researchers and policy voices to deliberate on advances in immunotherapy, targeted drugs and personalised treatment pathways. The discussions have moved beyond conventional chemotherapy models to focus on tailoring interventions based on genetic profiling and tumour behaviour.

What stands out is the emphasis on multidisciplinary decision making. Experts have underlined the need for structured tumour boards where oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and surgeons jointly evaluate cases before deciding treatment. This, they argue, is critical to improving outcomes, especially in complex cancers where a single line approach often falls short.

Equally significant is the attention to palliative care, an area that continues to be underdeveloped in India’s public health system. Doctors at the conference have stressed that quality of life must remain central to cancer care, particularly in advanced stages where curative options are limited.

The deliberations come against the backdrop of widening gaps in access to advanced therapies. While private centres in metros are increasingly adopting precision oncology, public institutions are still grappling with cost constraints and infrastructure gaps. AIIMS Jodhpur’s attempt to anchor this conversation within a government setup signals a push to bridge that divide.

The message from the conference is clear. The future of cancer care in India will depend not just on new drugs, but on how effectively the public health system can absorb and scale these innovations.