- Services to reduce financial burden of cancer patients and families
- Patients in Vidarbha will not have to travel long distances for chemotherapy
Chandrapur, February 04, 2022: On the occasion of World Cancer Day, Tata Trusts today announced the initiation of Day Care Chemotherapy services for cancer patients at Government Medical College (GMC), Chandrapur. These chemotherapy sessions and related services will be provided free of cost by a proficient medical team of Chandrapur Cancer Care Foundation (CCCF). CCCF is a special purpose vehicle set-up by Tata Trusts, Government of Maharashtra, Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), and District Mineral Foundation (DMF), to provide affordable quality care to cancer patients closer to their homes.
The services were inaugurated by Smt. Vidyut Varkhedkar, Additional District Collector, Chandrapur. The inauguration ceremony was graced by Dr. N. B. Rathod Civil Surgeon, Chandrapur, Dr. Ashok Nitnaware, Dean, GMC, Chandrapur Dr. Mangesh Gulwade, President, IMA Chandrapur and Dr. Kailash Sharma, Head Academics (Clinical Training – Education & Human Resources), Tata Trusts Cancer Care Programme, along with members of GMC Chandrapur and of Tata Trusts Cancer Care Programme.
Chemotherapy is one of the key treatments in various cancers. It could be advised after surgery or radiotherapy to reduce the risk of recurrence of cancer. It could also be advised before the surgery to reduce the size of cancerous tumor and enable its bulk removal. The treatment, however, is long spanning 3 to 6 months depending on the type and stage of cancer and requires multiple sessions and visits to the hospital.
“Vidarbha region has the second highest incidence of cancer in the state of Maharashtra. Every 1 in 10 men and 1 in 11 women are at the risk of developing cancer in the state. Cancer patients and their family members have to travel long distances for their treatment multiple times. Out of these visits to the cancer care hospital, maximum visits are for chemotherapy. Availability of free chemotherapy services at GMC, Chandrapur, will not only reduce the financial burden of the patient and family but also reduce their stress and anxiety for planning travel, stay, food and loss of pay/ wages due to long absenteeism from work,” shared Smt. Vidyut Varkhedkar, Additional District Collector, Chandrapur, during the inauguration ceremony.
At eighty cancer patients per one lakh, Vidarbha has a huge burden of cancer. The most common cancers are of the breast, cervix and colon among women, and lung, oral cavity and oesophageal among men. Multi-pronged strategies are needed to address the burgeoning issue.
“We, at the Cancer Care Programme of Tata Trusts, are working at multiple fronts through CCCF to tackle the issue. Our Public Health team is working at the block and panchayat level creating awareness about easily identifiable cancers and training the PHC and HWC staff for screening cancers. We have set-up a screening kiosk ‘Swasth Chandrapur’ at GMC, Chandrapur, for conducting free testing of oral, breast and cervical cancer along with other NCDs. Besides the day care chemotherapy services which have been launched today, we are jointly also setting-up a state-of-the-art cancer care hospital at Chandrapur, which will provide quality and affordable services to cancer patients of the region and adjoining areas closer to their homes.” shared Dr. Sanjiv Chopra, Chief Executive, Tata Trusts Cancer Care Programme.
“Cancer Care has been a priority area for Tata Trusts since many decades. At the programme, our objective is to ensure that no person is deprived of cancer care by virtue of accessibility or affordability. Initiation of free chemotherapy services for cancer patients is a yet another step in our commitment towards transforming cancer care delivery and making cancer care accessible and affordable,” added Dr. Kailash Sharma, Head Academics (Clinical Training – Education & Human Resources), Tata Trusts, Cancer Care Programme.
The day care chemotherapy services will be managed by a team of trained doctors, nurses and palliative care workers.
Since inception in 1892, Tata Trusts, India’s oldest philanthropic organisation, has played a pioneering role in bringing about an enduring difference in the lives of the communities it serves. Guided by the principles and the vision of proactive philanthropy of the Founder, Jamsetji Tata, the Trusts’ purpose is to catalyse development in the areas of health, nutrition, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, livelihood, digital transformation, migration and urban habitat, social justice and inclusion, environment and energy, skill development, sports, and arts and culture. The Trusts’ programmes, achieved through direct implementation, partnerships and grant making, are marked by innovations, relevant to the country. For more information, please visit
