December6, 2024 – The Integrated Health & Wellbeing (IHW) Council will host the Lung Health & Oncology National Conference 2024 on December 7, 2024, at the Ambedkar International Convention Centre, New Delhi. It will be a distinguished gathering of influential national stakeholders from governmental agencies, health sectors, and other allied organizations to discuss major issues in lung cancer management and make headway on personalized health care in the country.
Lung cancer happens to be the fourth most common cancer in India, with an annual incidence of 72,510 cases and 66,279 deaths, as calculated by The Lancet. Contributing factors include growing air pollution, industrial exposure, and smoking. Key areas of discussion at this conference will be patient-centric care, precision medicine, and cutting-edge diagnostic developments that characterize the future of oncology. It aims to foster cooperation and exchange of knowledge as well as elevate standards in treating lung cancer, focusing on innovation, early detection, and equal access to advanced care.
The event will feature an esteemed line-up of speakers, including Mr. Kamal Narayan, CEO, IHW Council; Dr. Saroj Das Majumder, Professor & HOD, Radiation Oncology Department, AIIMS, Bhubaneshwar; Col Rajeev Mannali, CEO, SUT Pattom Super Speciality Hospital; Mohammed Yahya, Director – CEO’s Office at Qure.ai; Dr. Charu Bahl, Senior Manager: Scientific Affairs Manager at Medgenome Labs; Dr.Moushumi Suryavanshi, Senior Consultant & Head (Molecular biology and cytogenetics); Dr. Anant Mohan, AIIMS Delhi; Col (Dr.) Shafin Babu, Associate Professor and Consultant Pulmonologist Department of Pulmonary- Critical Care and sleep Medicine, Command Hospital Eastern Command, Kolkata; Dr. Sridhar P S, Radiation Oncologist; Dr. Belal Bin Asaf, Founder Trustee, Associate Director of the Institute of Chest Surgery, Chest Onco-Surgery & Lung Transplantation at the Medanta – The Medicity, Gurugram, Haryana; Dr. Aditya Murali, Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology and Hemato Oncology, Apollo Hospitals; Dr. Subodh Kumar, Professor AIIMS, Deoghar; Dr. Navneet Singh, Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER); Vandana Mahajan, Lead Counsellor, Lung Connect; Mr. Vivek Tomar, (PhD, MPharm, Certification in NGO organisation management), Co-founder – “Rise To Survive Cancer; Dr. Urvashi Prasad, Former Director Niti Aayog.
The conference agenda is designed to facilitate insightful discussions on important issues. Sessions will be presented exploring the epidemiology of lung cancer in India, the impact of public awareness and the importance of screening and improving infrastructures to reduce the disease burden. The role of AI technology will also be discussed, as well as how it is transforming the detection of lung cancer, allowing early detection and accurate diagnostic capabilities, especially in resource-deprived settings. The focus will also be on molecular biomarkers, which can offer important insights into tumor biology to enable timely and personal interventions.
A session on multidisciplinary treatment approaches will discuss new advances in the management of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC). Experts would be discussing the practical applicability of global guidelines, innovative treatments, and the challenges these bring in their implementation into the Indian scenario. The end will culminate in a session to address lacunas in lung cancer care and explore regional disparities as well as actionable solutions like the role patient advocacy groups play in bettering equitable healthcare access.
Kamal Narayan Omer, Founder and CEO of IHW Council, emphasized the significance of the event, stating, “One of the most serious health issues confronting the country today is lung cancer. This is an issue that needs immediate and collective attention from all stakeholders involved. This conference provides a great opportunity for experts, innovators, and policymakers under one roof to discuss innovative solutions for the care of lung cancer. By focusing on new diagnostic technologies, early detection approaches, and equitable access to personalized treatments, we can create a way for better outcomes and a stronger healthcare ecosystem. We must make meaningful progress and offer renewed hope to patients and families suffering from this challenging disease.”
The Lung Health & Oncology National Conference 2024 is, therefore a much-needed step for the conquest of lung cancer in India. It lays emphasis on prevention, early detection, and advanced treatment approaches, facilitating collaboration and innovation for effective change in the management of lung cancer.
