RGCIRC and Coloplast India Sign MoU to Establish Centre of Excellence for Ostomy Care
Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre (RGCIRC), one of India’s authorities in cancer care and research, has taken another important step in advancing the country’s defense against cancer. The Institute has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Coloplast India (the India arm of Coloplast, a global leader in medical equipment and technology manufacturing headquartered in Humlebæk, Denmark), to establish a Centre of Excellence for Ostomy Care, aimed at strengthening specialised nursing capabilities and improving standards of stoma care.
The Centre of Excellence will run the ‘Advanced Stoma Certification Training Programme’, a structured, institution-based training initiative designed to equip nurses with advanced knowledge and practical skills in stoma care. The programme will focus on building greater consistency in clinical practice and strengthening the quality of support available to patients living with a stoma.
Stomas may be required following surgical procedures for colorectal, bladder and abdominal cancers, where an artificial opening is created for intestinal or urinary diversion. For patients, adapting to a stoma can involve significant physical and lifestyle changes, making specialised nursing support an important part of post-operative care and rehabilitation.
Through the partnership, RGCIRC and Coloplast India aim to strengthen nursing competencies across critical aspects of ostomy care, including pre-operative counselling, stoma-site marking, post-operative management and long-term rehabilitation.
A key focus of the Centre will be the standardisation of ostomy-care protocols through uniform, evidence-based practices. Nurses undergoing the programme will receive hands-on training in stoma management and will be assessed against defined competency standards. The initiative will also seek to embed advanced stoma-care practices into routine nursing workflows.
Dr. D. S. Gangwar, CEO, RGCIRC, also shared his thoughts, “Cancer care does not end with the surgical procedure. For patients who undergo stoma formation, the quality of post-operative support and rehabilitation can make a significant difference to their recovery and day-to-day life. Through this Centre of Excellence, we aim to strengthen specialised nursing skills and build a more structured approach to ostomy care, so that patients receive consistent support throughout their recovery journey,” Dr. Gangwar said.
The initiative is also expected to strengthen clinical capabilities related to prevention and management of post-operative complications, protection of peristomal skin and continuity of care after discharge. By creating a trained network of stoma-care nurses, the programme aims to support more standardised and specialised care within healthcare institutions.
Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Shivendra Singh, Director, Surgical Oncology & Chief, GI & HPB Onco Surgery, RGCIRC, said, “For many patients undergoing surgery for gastrointestinal and related cancers, living with a stoma becomes an important part of recovery and rehabilitation. The quality of counselling, site selection, post-operative care and long-term support can significantly influence how well a patient adapts after surgery. This initiative was conceived to bring greater structure and consistency to ostomy care, while equipping nursing teams with specialised skills that can directly improve the patient experience.”
The Centre of Excellence commenced its inaugural cohort of the Advanced Stoma Care Management Programme from October 22 to 24, 2026. The programme is expected to help build a dedicated network of certified stoma-care nurses who can contribute to stronger institutional practices and progressively raise standards in ostomy care.
For RGCIRC, the collaboration is aligned with its broader focus on multidisciplinary cancer care and strengthening specialised nursing expertise. The Centre of Excellence is expected to provide a structured platform for training, skill development and adoption of evidence-based practices in an area of care that can have a significant impact on patients’ quality of life.
The partnership between RGCIRC and Coloplast India marks an important step towards advancing ostomy-care expertise, strengthening specialised nursing competencies and improving rehabilitation support for people living with a stoma.
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