Dr. Pawan Gupta, Executive Committee Member of the Telemedicine Society of India (TSI) 2023–2025, had the honor of delivering a keynote address at the prestigious 13th ODITELEMEDICON 2025. This significant event was organized by the TSI Odisha Chapter in collaboration with the District Health Administration, Angul, on April 12, 2025, at the Black Diamond Complex, Angul, Odisha. The conference’s central theme, “Emerging Technologies Influencing Healthcare Services,” provided an excellent platform to explore innovative solutions in healthcare delivery.
In his compelling presentation, titled “NEWER MODALITIES of TELECARE in Oral Cancer – Indian Solution for Indian Problem”, Dr. Gupta addressed the critical need for accessible and scalable telecare solutions tailored specifically for oral cancer management in India’s rural and underserved regions.
Dr. Gupta highlighted pressing challenges in oral cancer care, including limited availability of skilled healthcare professionals, gaps in public awareness, insufficient follow-up for oral pre-malignant lesions (PML), and the absence of regional quitline services. To address these challenges, he showcased the pioneering telecare model developed by ICanCaRe, a holistic approach blending digital technology, community engagement, and advanced healthcare solutions.
Significant initiatives presented include:
- The ICanCaRe digital platform facilitating tele-consultations, tobacco cessation programs, and comprehensive patient management.
- AI-driven diagnostic tools for the early detection and accurate categorization of oral lesions, in partnership with prestigious institutions like IIT Delhi and RRCAT.
- Adoption of non-invasive therapies such as Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and Photobiomodulation (PBM) for effectively treating PML and recurrent oral cancers.
- Introduction of the patented TrisCaRe mouth-opening device, an innovative solution for managing trismus caused by smokeless tobacco use.
Dr. Gupta shared powerful case studies demonstrating the remarkable success of ICanCaRe’s tobacco cessation programs, achieving significant lesion regression and dramatically improving patient outcomes. Additionally, he underscored the extensive training initiatives by the ICanCaRe Academy, which has successfully trained over 950 certified tobacco cessation experts nationwide, significantly enhancing local healthcare capacity.
Concluding his address, Dr. Gupta emphasized the need for robust collaboration among government agencies, NGOs, PSUs, and the private sector to create an integrated ecosystem. Leveraging telemedicine and advanced technology, this collaborative model aims to reduce the prevalence of oral cancer effectively and pave the way toward a Tobacco-Free Bharat.
📸 More highlights from the program here: ODITELEMEDICON 2025 Google Album
