Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 12: AIIMS Jammu organized a one-day symposium on “Establishing Plaque Brachytherapy Program for Ocular Oncology,” bringing together experts from ophthalmology and radiation oncology to deliberate on advancements and infrastructure requirements for eye cancer care.
The inaugural session was led by Prof (Dr) DN Sharma, Executive Director and CEO, who underlined the importance of developing specialized ocular oncology services in the region. Prof (Dr) Meeta Gupta, Dean (Academics), highlighted the significance of such academic initiatives in strengthening clinical capabilities and promoting knowledge exchange.
Dr Bhavani Raina, Additional Professor and Officiating Head of Department, outlined the range of services currently available at the institute and introduced the symposium, stressing the growing need for integrated ocular oncology care. Prof (Dr) Shabab Lalit Angurana, Dean (Research) and Head, Department of Radiation Oncology, presented an overview of brachytherapy services, noting that the department is actively addressing the region’s increasing clinical demands.
Dr Nitin Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, elaborated on the expanding clinical requirements in ocular oncology, emphasizing the urgency of establishing specialized and coordinated care services.
Key scientific sessions featured expert talks by specialists from AIIMS New Delhi, including Dr Neiwete Lomi, Dr Surendra Kumar Saini and Dr Dhanabalan Rajasekaran, who shared insights on clinical practices and technological advancements in plaque brachytherapy.
An interactive panel discussion, moderated by Dr Ridham Nanda, focused on strategies for implementing plaque brachytherapy services at the institute, encouraging dialogue among participants.
A major highlight of the symposium was the discussion on licensing requirements and regulatory approvals mandated by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. Experts pointed out that compliance with radiation safety norms, infrastructure standards and the availability of trained personnel remain key challenges for institutions planning to establish such facilities.
Discussions also covered procurement and handling of radioactive plaques, the need for multidisciplinary teams, and coordination among ophthalmologists, radiation oncologists and medical physicists. Operational aspects, including patient selection, treatment planning, radiation safety protocols and long-term follow-up, were examined in detail.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Nazia Anjum.
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