How will India measure progress towards its goal of achieving more than 60% childhood cancer survival by 2030—and what must change to ensure more children live?

 

That urgent question took centre stage at the 10th PHOSSCON, held at IISER Mohali alongside the 29th PHOCON of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics’ Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Chapter, bringing research, patient advocacy and healthcare system reform into sharper focus.

 

A major highlight was landmark research led by Professor Dr Sameer Bakhshi and his team at AIIMS New Delhi. The study consolidates three decades of Indian childhood cancer survival evidence, drawing on 182 studies involving 22,886 children. The findings offer a crucial evidence base for assessing survival outcomes and identifying where India must act to improve them.

 

Patient advocates Poonam Bagai and Sonal Sharma, who championed the study and are among its co-authors, underscored its significance in establishing the evidence needed to track progress towards the UNGA 80 resolution target of 60% childhood cancer survival by 2030.

 

The conference highlighted a growing shift in the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs)—from providing seva and family support to shaping research, influencing policy, strengthening clinical capacity and driving change across the healthcare ecosystem.

 

Compassionate service remains central, but the ambition is expanding: to generate evidence, improve care pathways and help more children survive cancer.

 

In a significant step towards that goal, 24 NGOs agreed to participate in a patient-journey study involving 400 families. Guided by Dr Pooja Sharma of Apar Health, the initiative falls under the PACER (Patient Advocates for Clinical Research) project and aims to document families’ experiences, generate evidence and inform improvements in care and policy.

 

Discussions also examined civil society’s contribution to the Indian Childhood Cancer Initiative (ICCI) and its Strategic Roadmap, engagement with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s Technical Expert Group for childhood cancer, and implementation through state-level partnerships.

 

Punjab emerged as an important example of how partnerships between government, healthcare institutions and civil society could reshape childhood cancer care.

 

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 the implementing partner.

 

The proposed framework could strengthen access to coordinated childhood cancer care in Punjab and potentially benefit neighbouring states.

 

One of the conference’s most moving moments was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Lokeshwar Award to senior paediatric oncologist Dr Revathy Raj.

 

Anitha Joshua, a parent and managing director of David Foundation, paid tribute to the doctor’s compassionate care with a deeply personal reflection: although her child did not survive, Dr Revathy had helped her survive as a mother.

 

Her tribute captured a central message of the conference: improving survival must remain the priority, but the responsibility to care for children and families extends beyond treatment outcomes.

 

Reflecting on the journey that began in 2015, Poonam Bagai, Organising Chair of all ten PHOSSCON editions, 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.”

 

The message from Mohali was clear: India’s 2030 childhood cancer survival ambition will require more than a target. It will demand credible evidence, coordinated healthcare systems, stronger policy implementation and sustained support for families.