PTW and SCMPCR: United for Excellence in Medical Physics in South Asia and Beyond

In 2025, the South Asia Centre for Medical Physics and Cancer Research (SCMPCR) further advanced its role in medical physics education and training. Its annual e-learning programs and hands-on workshops, now also attended by radiation oncologists, reflect the center’s growing interdisciplinary approach. From 2026, radiologists will also be included. As a long-standing supporter, PTW reports on SCMPCR’s latest developments.

A key pillar of SCMPCR’s educational work is the annual e-learning program, held each November. Attendance remains high, with around 100 attendees from South Asia, Africa, and Europe – including Germany for the first time. The 2024 program focused on brachytherapy procedures for medical physicists and radiation oncologists and was accredited with 16 CPD points by the International Organisation for Medical Physics (IOMP).

In November 2025, the program will celebrate its tenth edition, with the lecture series focusing on “Soft Skills for Medical Physicists and Scientists in Cancer Research”.

Practical Training: Hands-on Workshop in Nepal

From 13 to 16 March 2025, the eighth SCMPCR hands-on workshop took place in collaboration with the B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital (BPKMCH) in Chitwan, Nepal. Under the title “Clinical Implementation of SRS, SRT and SBRT for Medical Physicists and Radiation Oncologists”, the workshop focused on the practical application of modern radiotherapy techniques.

For the first time, the event was aimed not only at medical physicists but also at radiation oncologists. Professor Golam Abu Zakaria, founder and director of SCMPCR, commented: “This premiere went very well. We had two physicians as speakers for the radiation oncologists. The medical physicists were also enthusiastic, as both groups benefited from the joint participation and exchange.”

A total of 42 medical physicists and radiation oncologists from Nepal, India and Bangladesh took part. The four-day workshop offered a balanced mix of theory and practice – presented by renowned experts from six countries: Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Bangladesh and India. Representing PTW, Dr K. Kanakavel was on site and provided insights into patient-specific quality assurance, presenting various measurement and testing systems used in this context. The workshop was accredited with 38 CPD points from the European Board for Accreditation in Medical Physics (EBAMP).

SCMPCR`s eighth hands-on workshop in Chitwan, Nepal — From March 13–16, 2025, SCMPCR held its eighth hands-on workshop in Chitwan, Nepal – bringing together medical physicists and radiation oncologists for interdisciplinary training.

In addition to professional development, the event also provided space for international exchange and personal networking. The location, Chitwan – known for its natural beauty – highlighted the holistic nature of the program.

The next hands-on workshop is scheduled for March 2026 in Sri Lanka. For the first time, radiologists will also be actively involved in the program – another step towards interdisciplinary exchange and practical training.

Awareness and Prevention Campaigns on a New Level

SCMPCR has successfully established a partnership with public hospitals in Bangladesh. This collaboration enables the targeted use of hospital infrastructure for future prevention programs. “Although we have to bring equipment and medical staff, having access to the facilities enhances the impact of our campaigns,” explains Professor Zakaria.

SCMPCR partnerships with public hospitals in Bangladesh — Through partnerships with public hospitals in Bangladesh, SCMPCR now uses hospital infrastructure to run its cancer awareness and prevention campaigns.

A Mobile Clinic as a Vision for the Future

One idea for the future is the creation of a mobile clinic – a specially equipped bus with a mammography device and other diagnostic tools, delivering preventive care to remote areas.

Promoting Future Leaders: Golam-Abu-Zakaria Best Young Leadership Award

A key highlight was the presentation of the Golam-Abu-Zakaria Best Young Leadership Award, granted by the Asia-Oceania Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics (AFOMP). First awarded in 2022, the prize honors outstanding young professionals under the age of 40 who demonstrate leadership, commitment and sustainable contributions to the advancement of medical physics in the region. In 2024, the award was presented to Dr Men Kuo, a medical physicist from China. The annual award ceremony takes place during the Asia-Oceania Conference on Medical Physics (AOCMP).

PTW remains a reliable partner of SCMPCR in 2025 – united by shared values and the goal of advancing medical physics in the region through excellent education and knowledge transfer in modern cancer therapies.

Further details about SCMPCR’s e-learning programs and hands-on workshops can be found at https://scmpcr.org/e-learning-program/ and https://scmpcr.org/hands-on-workshop/.

To support SCMPCR’s initiatives, visit https://alobhubon.org/scmpcr/.