The Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (GCRI) in the Civil Hospital is in the process of getting affiliation from MD Anderson Cancer Center of University of Texas. Following the association, doctors and researchers of Anderson Center will visit the cancer hospital to share their expertise on the deadly decease. This was disclosed by GCRI on the occasion of World Cancer Day on Wednesday.

Prof Sen Pathak of Anderson Cancer Center, who was in the city for talks, said, “We are trying to affiliate cancer research centres of Gujarat, New Delhi and Banaras to Anderson Cancer Center.” However, this will take some time as Prof Pathak will present the matter before authorities in the institute he works. Talking to AM, prof Pathak said estimates worked out by the former director of National Cancer Institute of America, India will have the maximum number or cancer patients in the world in the next 15-20 years as the numbers are growing rapidly.

 He said, “India has made fast progress in many sectors, but cancer is one area where it still needs to do a lot. I an sad to say that cancer treatment here is poor. There is no co-ordination between doctors and researchers, which is bad. Post-graduate specialists in cancer think they are superior to researchers, and hence don't take their help.

At Anderson and other institutes in US, doctors and researchers work together. In fact, every doctor mandatorily has to work with researchers.” Director of GCRI Pankaj Shah said, “We are trying to get an affiliation from Anderson Cancer Center. I have visited the centre, and prof Pathak is trying to help us in the endeavour.”