Senior physicians, researchers, patient advocates, and policymakers from BIMSTEC countries gathered in India for the annual meeting of the National Cancer Grid (NCG), held on August 2–3, 2025, at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. The meeting aimed to assess current progress and plan future collaborations in cancer care across the region.
This initiative is part of India’s commitment made by the Prime Minister at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, held in April in Bangkok, to support BIMSTEC nations in strengthening their cancer care infrastructure.
“The initiative will support BIMSTEC partners in building their capabilities in cancer treatment and management through the expertise available in India,” stated the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is a regional organization established in 1997 with the Bangkok Declaration. Initially called BIST-EC, the group now includes seven member nations: Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Nepal.
During the NCG meeting, directors of cancer centers, international researchers, and key stakeholders reviewed NCG’s achievements, shared learnings, and explored collaborative strategies to strengthen regional cancer care.