The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Mumbai branch secretariat, in collaboration with the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) at the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), organized an exposure visit for consul generals from global south countries. The initiative aimed to explore avenues for collaboration in cancer care, research, and capacity building.
Participating Countries
Consul generals from Afghanistan, Egypt, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, along with other consulate officials from Bangladesh, Colombia, and Yemen, attended the visit. TMC is an aided institute under the Department of Atomic Energy.
Health Diplomacy Focus
Swapnil Thorat, head of the MEA branch secretariat in Mumbai, highlighted health diplomacy as a key aspect of India's engagement with global south countries. He apprised the consul generals of various initiatives taken by the central government to promote self-reliance and sustainable growth among partner countries.
TMC Director's Perspective
Dr. Sudeep Gupta, director of TMC, stated that such initiatives will boost collaboration with countries that share similar socio-economic challenges as India. He emphasized the potential for joint efforts in cancer research and treatment.
ACTREC's Role
Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, director of ACTREC, and Dr. Navin Khattry, deputy director of ACTREC, briefed the officials on ACTREC's journey, international collaborations, and pioneering initiatives in cancer care and research. The interaction was followed by a discussion and a curated tour of advanced cancer treatment facilities and a child care cancer hospital within the premises.
