Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Introduction: Bhutan is low middle income country with small population of around 738,000 (2011), bordering India and China. As of 2011, there were 31 hospitals across Bhutan and Jigme Dorgi Wangchuk National Hospital (JDWNRH) is main referral hospital in Bhutan. The burden of cancer affects all countries; high-income countries have the capacity and resources to establish comprehensive cancer control program, low and middle-income countries have limited resources to develop such programs. Cancer is the estimated top 10 leading cause of mortality in Bhutan, however actual incidence and mortality unknown with lack of surveillance system and cancer registry. Method: In 2009, ASCO joined with Health Volunteers Overseas to create its International Cancer Corps (ICC) designed to provide oncologists with opportunities to volunteer their time and expertise in some of the countries that need it most including Bhutan. In November 2013, we started to establishment of the cancer registry in Bhutan. Registry work began at JDWNRH, which cover almost 70-80 percent of cancer cases of Bhutan. CanReg5 software was used to restore the registry data. Progress: Cancer registry advisory board was established including member from Ministry of Health, Physician and pathologist from National Referral hospital. CanReg5 field were modified and added variables based on Bhutan health and demographic data source. Dummy registry was created. After testing the dummy registry, few fields were modified on actual registry. All the incidence cases from year 2005-2010 were entered in to registry from the JDWNRH, further entry of yearly cases and registry report are under process. Future Challenges: Registry personal training urgently required. Further, maintaining quality data, data using policies, international collaboration and its won support of MoH need to the credibility and sustainability of the Registry. External funding and resources required to enhance its population based registry.