BIMSTEC Doctors Converge in India: How One Hospital is Shaping Regional Cancer Care and Diplomacy

Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (HBCHRC) in Visakhapatnam, 35 cancer care professionals from across the Bay of Bengal region

From a declaration at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit to hands-on training in hospital wards, India’s regional diplomacy is now being practised through cancer care. At the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (HBCHRC) in Visakhapatnam, 35 cancer care professionals from across the Bay of Bengal region are converging not for a conference, but to confront a shared clinical challenge. This is diplomacy in motion reflecting practical, people-centric, and deeply human characteristics.

Turning Summit Promises into Tangible Action

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitments at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit are no longer just words on paper. The second phase of the specialized cancer care capacity-building programme at HBCHRC is evidence of India translating pledges into outcomes. Beyond official communiqués and summit statements, BIMSTEC cooperation is finding expression in a shared struggle against cancer, a battle that transcends borders and politics.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, has increasingly turned toward functional collaboration in areas that impact everyday lives. Health, particularly cancer care, is emerging as a key priority, given the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases across South and Southeast Asia.

A Snapshot of Regional Collaboration

The presence of 35 cancer care professionals from multiple BIMSTEC countries in one hospital training programme serves as a powerful snapshot. It illustrates the rare convergence of health experts from South and Southeast Asia, unified not by politics but by a common clinical mission. Such gatherings foster trust, mutual learning, and a sense of shared purpose that no policy document can convey.

The first phase of this programme, held in July–August 2025, trained 21 professionals from four countries. The current phase builds on that foundation, signaling a long-term, structured approach aimed at genuinely strengthening regional oncology capacities rather than offering one-off assistance.

Hands-On Learning Across Critical Oncology Domains

The four-week intensive training spans Onco-Pathology, Onco-Nursing, Palliative Medicine, Preventive Oncology, and Radiation Oncology. Participants engage in hands-on workshops using cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, moving beyond theory into the practical realities of patient care.

By emphasizing preventive oncology and palliative care alongside advanced treatments, the programme addresses the entire cancer care continuum, which is a critical consideration for resource-constrained health systems. India’s extensive experience in delivering high-quality, affordable cancer treatment becomes a shared asset, accessible to the broader region.

Visakhapatnam: More Than Just a Host City

Visakhapatnam’s selection is not incidental as its location mirrors India’s ambition to anchor cooperation along the Bay of Bengal corridor. The decision to host the programme outside New Delhi or Mumbai is itself revealing. It reflects a deliberate attempt to decentralize diplomacy and embed cooperation in functional, operational spaces rather than political centers.

The hospital’s eastern seaboard location enhances symbolic and practical value, making it a natural bridge between South and Southeast Asia. As BIMSTEC searches for relevance and results, the Visakhapatnam model offers a template where diplomacy, development, and healthcare converge seamlessly.

Institutional Networks and Knowledge Exchange

The training initiative, jointly implemented by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Tata Memorial Centre, aims to go beyond individual skill enhancement. It fosters institution-to-institution collaboration, promotes joint research, and encourages the exchange of best practices across the region.

The presence of MEA officials, including C.S.R. Ram, Joint Secretary (BIMSTEC & SAARC), at the inauguration inside a medical institution rather than a conference hall illustrates a shift in diplomatic spaces. Diplomacy is increasingly conducted where services are delivered, making policy tangible for real people.

Health Diplomacy as Soft Power

India’s investment in BIMSTEC cancer care extends beyond medicine. It represents a sophisticated exercise in health diplomacy, projecting soft power through the sharing of advanced yet affordable medical expertise. By positioning itself as a provider of public goods, India reinforces trust, goodwill, and enduring professional networks among its neighbors.

Cancer care, a humanitarian and non-controversial domain, allows regional engagement to move from declaratory politics to practical collaboration. It strengthens BIMSTEC’s credibility while embedding India’s leadership in an area that directly touches lives.

From Aid to Sustainable Regional Leadership

The initiative aligns with India’s Neighbourhood First, Act East, and MAHASAGAR policies. It exemplifies a shift from aid-based diplomacy to capacity-based partnership. Rather than temporary assistance, India enables partner countries to build self-reliant healthcare systems through skill transfer and institutional strengthening.

Medical professionals trained in India are likely to occupy leadership roles in their home countries, creating enduring professional networks and long-term diplomatic capital. In this sense, HBCHRC is more than a healthcare institution—it is a strategic hub, embedding India’s regional leadership in healthcare cooperation, people-to-people ties, and sustainable development across BIMSTEC.

Diplomacy in Action, Healing Across Borders

From summit declarations to hospital wards, India’s approach to regional diplomacy illustrates a simple but powerful idea. Lasting influence emerges when expertise meets empathy. By turning health cooperation into action, the Visakhapatnam programme demonstrates that real leadership is not just about signing agreements but about nurturing skills, saving lives, and building networks that endure long after the headlines fade.