MOHALI, Oct 25: How will India measure its goal of achieving 60%+ childhood cancer survival by 2030—and what must change to help more children survive?
This question was central to the 10th PHOSSCON, held at IISER Mohali on 24–25 October alongside the 29th PHOCON of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics’ Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Chapter.
A major highlight was landmark research led by professor Dr Sameer Bakhshi and his AIIMS New Delhi team, consolidating three decades of Indian childhood cancer survival evidence across 182 studies involving 22,886 children.
Patient advocates Poonam Bagai and Sonal Sharma, who advocated for the study and are co-authors, emphasised its importance in establishing the evidence needed to track progress towards UNGA 80 resolution for 60% survival for children with cancer by 2030.
The conference reflected how NGOs are evolving from seva and support to research, policy advocacy, capacity building and healthcare ecosystem change, while continuing compassionate service delivery.
In a significant commitment, 24 NGOs agreed to participate in a patient-journey study involving 400 families, guided by Dr Pooja Sharma of Apar health under the PACER (patient advocates for clinical research) project to generate evidence on families’ experiences and influence care and policy.
Discussions also highlighted civil society’s contributions to the Indian Childhood Cancer Initiative (ICCI), its Strategic Roadmap, engagement with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Technical Expert Group for childhood cancer and implementation through state partnerships.
Punjab offered an important example. Building on CanKids’ partnership with the state government since 2017, an Integrated Childhood Cancer Care Framework is being developed with HBCH Mullanpur, AIIMS Bathinda and CMC Ludhiana as key hubs and CanKids as implementing partner, potentially benefiting adjoining states.
Another moving highlight was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Lokeshwar Award to Dr Revathy Raj, senior paediatric oncologist. Anitha Joshua, a parent and MD of David Foundation, paid tribute to her compassionate care, sharing that though her child did not survive Dr Revathy had helped her survive as a mother.
Poonam Bagai, Organising Chair of all ten PHOSSCON editions, reflecting on the journey begun in 2015, said:
“When we began this journey in 2015, our commitment was to bring the science of cure together with the humanity of care.
Over ten PHOSSCONs, I have watched our NGO community grow from seva and support into partners in research, advocacy and healthcare systems change. Today, we are asking a bigger question—not just how to help children through treatment, but how to help more children survive.
And as one mother’s moving words reminded us, even when cure is not possible, care must never fail.”
Ten PHOSSCONs. One shared commitment: More children surviving. Every family supported.
