Oncology Training and Education in India

A prerequisite to optimal delivery of effective cancer care mandates the availability of appropriate infrastructure and a large workforce of trained manpower adequately trained to optimally address the challenges of modern cancer care. With the rapid advances in understanding of cancer biology, cancer diagnostics and cancer therapeutics, it is essential that today’s cancer education and training programs should cater to not only teaching the basics but also acquaint young oncologists with the newer advances in oncology. In a large country like India with a rapidly increasing cancer burden, with a very diverse socioeconomic environment across the country, there is also a need to train personnel to be able to choose management policies wisely. This chapter highlights the needs and the available resources to meet these challenges, especially with regard to the educational and training programmes of Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.