Table 3. Action points and implementation strategies to take geriatric oncology in India forward in the next decade.

Focus areas	Goal	Possible implementation methods
Increasing the uptake of the GA throughout India	Every older Indian patient with cancer should undergo a GA with targeted interventions prior to planning cancer-directed therapy.	• Continuing education regarding the importance of GA • Using technology (application-based GAs) • Developing a short India-specific GA • Use of screening tools like G8 and VES
Building a cadre of professionals trained in geriatric oncology	There should be specialists who are trained in the assessment and care of older patients with cancer at every institution and clinic that manages older persons with cancer.	• Robust training programs to provide education in the principles and practice of geriatric oncology • Ongoing and frequent hands-on workshops and webinars
Inter-instutional collaboration	To establish an inter-institutional collaborative network of healthcare professionals for knowledge-sharing, collaborative research and other multicentric activities.	• To establish and register the Geriatric Oncology Society of India. • Hold monthly meetings online • Organise an annual meeting/conference to decide the purpose, planned work and manifesto of the society. • Overarching goal will be to enhance the quality of service, education, and geriatric oncology research across multiple institutions in India
Multicentric research studies	To generate evidence that answers the unique issues of older Indian patients with cancer.	• Establish a group of like-minded researchers within the collaborative oncology network • Build a clinical trials wing within the group, and establish the necessary manpower and infrastructure to conduct high-quality research studies. • Brainstorm regarding the top research priorities, and decide the most important focus areas. • Apply to various funding agencies for the top projects.
India-specific geriatric oncology guidelines	To establish a set of minimum and optimal guidelines to streamline the assessment and care of older Indian patients with cancer	• In order for these guidelines to be relevant and applicable to older Indian patients with cancer, we will need to: • Modify the existing global guidelines, and/or • Generate new culturally appropriate and country specific tools for assessment, and interventions. • These guidelines will have to be updated on a regular basis, perhaps every 2 to 3 years.

Acronyms: GA = geriatric assessment, G8 = Geriatric 8; VES = Vulnerable elders survey