CHANDIGARH, 04.11.25-At the 29th Annual Conference of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (NZ-AROI) held at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, Dr. Rakesh Kapoor, Professor& Head (Unit-II), Department of Radiotherapy & Oncology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, delivered the prestigious B.D. Gupta Oration in honour of Prof. (Dr.) Braham Dutt Gupta, the founding Head of Radiotherapy at PGIMER and a pioneer in establishing brachytherapy services in India.

In his address, Dr. Kapoor reflected on Dr. Gupta’s visionary contributions, including the early development of structured radiation oncology training, indigenous brachytherapy advancements, and the establishment of systematic treatment practices that positioned PGIMER among the leading cancer care centres in the country. Archival clinical material and historical treatment protocols were highlighted to showcase the rich legacy and precision-driven foundations laid at PGI.

During the oration, Dr. Kapoor also presented his talk titled “Reintegrating Brachytherapy: A Strategic Shift in Modern Radiation Oncology Practice.” He emphasized that despite significant technological progress in external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy remains indispensable for certain cancers due to its precision, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness, particularly in a resource-sensitive healthcare environment. He highlighted the need to reintegrate brachytherapy training, infrastructure, and clinical adoption in India, supported by modern advances including image guidance, AI-assisted planning, personalized applicators, and improved workflow systems.