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Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics
Medknow Publications on behalf of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROI)
ISSN: 0973-1482 EISSN: 1998-4138
Vol. 1, Num. 2, 2005, pp. 71-72

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics, Vol. 1, No. 2, April-June, 2005, pp. 71-72

Editorial

Number game & reality

Division of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Balabhai Nanavati Hospital, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai - 400 56
Correspondence Address:Division of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Balabhai Nanavati Hospital, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai - 400 56

Code Number: cr05014

"Fools dwelling in darkness, wise in their own conceit, and puffed with vain knowledge go round and, around, staggering to and fro like blind men led by blind men."

Upanishads

It is evident that India needs more radiotherapy machines to treat patients scattered across the length & breath of the country to make any impact on survival. There are around 300 installed machines while the country needs a lot more. Numbers however numbing do not have the strength to make an impact. But one look at the Indian map with dots for radiation facilities says it all. There are vast stretches of land in west & northeastern states of India where no dots corresponding to radiation facilities are seen. That indeed is the reality! Woefully inadequate facilities, the map with scattered dots looks inviting for the industry, a potential market to be exploited. There is an upbeat mood within the industry with every one marketing top of the shelf technology at an exhorbitant cost. The costs of radiation therapy in private sector have escalated. The hospitals in the private sector being well equipped may also become the venue for medical tourism. But how about the common Indian? The opinion makers in the association of radiation oncologists should make an effort to draw out a blue print and a plan to expand the radiation therapy base. The Indian map should be replete with dots representing facility for cancer care. But it should be affordable & accessible to all. Member of AROI should put their heads together to define the appropriate technology. The leaders & others should come up with fresh ideas even if they are polemical. I am reminded of Ernst Mayr′s line from, ′The growth of biological thought′, it may provide a guidance to come up with revolutionary ideas. " My tactic is to make sweeping categorical statements. Whether or not this is a fault, in the free world of the interchange of scientific ideas, is debatable. My own feeling is that it leads more quickly to the ultimate solution of scientific problems than a cautions sitting on the fence. histories should even be polemical. Such histories will arouse contradiction and they will challenge the reader to come up with a refutation. By a dialectical process this will speed up synthesis of perspective".

AROI can adopt this method to come up with a consensus and a blue print on the appropriate technology. The editorial board has decided to invite articles for best paper award from investigator younger than 40 years. It will be awarded four times a year. The best paper award carries a cash prize and a citation. The best paper will also be printed in JCRT. JCRT also is looking forward to critical comments on the published papers.

Now is the time for the second volume of JCRT. It is said any one can write a good story once but to be called a writer one has to be constant. I hope there are signs of JCRT getting better with this edition.

[Figure - 1], [Figure - 2]

Copyright 2005 - Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics


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[cr05014f2.jpg] [cr05014f1.jpg]
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