It is estimated that there are approximately 2.5-3 million prevalent cases of cancer in India at a given time. At the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, 25-30% of registrations are from the Eastern, Northeastern regions of the country and from Nepal and Bangladesh. To provide these people access to world-class cancer management and care, the Tata Medical Center Trust was formed in 2005, and the project for a new hospital was launched. Tata Medical Center, Kolkata is a philanthropic initiative from the House of Tata. Its mission is to promote prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation and research for cancer patients.
The Tata Medical Center presentation was made to 65 invitees interested in philanthropy at the Taj Campton in San Francisco, April 19.
Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe, introduced Geeta Gopalakrishnan, director donor relationships of the Tata Medical Center from India, who briefed the audience about an issue of national concern.
According to Geeta, the maximum numbers of specific cancers come from Eastern India.
(Above): Geeta Gopalakrishnan speaks to the audience at the Tata Medical Center event, at Taj Campton Place, in San Francisco, April 19; Brand ambassador Vijay Amritraj at the Tata Medical Center event, at Taj Campton Place, in San Francisco; and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen introduced Geeta Gopalakrishnan who was visiting from India. [All Photos: Tata Group]
Ratan Tata, concerned by this, set up a Rs. 350-crore world-class cancer center in Kolkata that was inaugurated in May 2011. The hospital has 50% of the beds reserved exclusively for the underprivileged. Over 13,000 cancer patients have been treated, but with the pouring in of thousands more, the hospital needs to expand rapidly.
Tata Medical Center, Kolkata aims to be one of the leading Cancer Care and Research Institutions in the country and will benefit West Bengal as well as the adjoining states and neighboring countries.
This institution has been set up at New Town in the Rajarhat area of Kolkata on 13 acres of land and is managed by a professional management body reporting to the Tata Medical Center Trust (TMCT), Kolkata.
The Hospital has been built on carefully landscaped grounds to emphasize the holistic approach in our crusade against cancer.
Cannon Design, a renowned architectural firm from North America, has designed the buildings. Diagnosis and treatment is characterized by a multi-disciplinary approach with disease management teams, where experts from different streams such as surgery, radiation oncology, medical oncology, pathology, radiology, psychiatry and medical social work participate in decision-making for treatment protocols, using evidence-based medical strategies and appropriate documented clinical guidelines.
(Above): A section of the audience who attended the event at Taj Campton Place, San Francisco, April 19. [Photo: Tata Group]
People from all over India have contributed towards the raising of funds for the corpus and urgently needed expansion.
Hundreds and thousands of big hearts have gone out to the cause of underprivileged cancer patients in Eastern and North Eastern India. From Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan to entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, from a government clerk in Kochi sending a check for Rs. 100 to investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, from thousands who want their names kept anonymous, love continues to pour in as they rally around to support the cause in every possible way.
Many in Bay Area offered to volunteer for taking the movement forward, especially Vijay Amritraj who flew in specially for this evening and agreed to be part of the “Make It 40 Love” campaign, where people can donate $40 each to offer a special treat for underprivileged children in the hospital through the Wimbledon season.
Interested readers can learn more about the hospital and about how to donate at tmckolkata.com.
(Above): A bigger view of the collage of artworks from child patients at the Tata Medical Center, Kolkata. [Photo: Tata Group]
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