Free radiation therapy for cancer patients in Pune

A cutting-edge technology in radiation ­therapy has been set up for free and affordable cancer treatment through a ­partnership between a research centre and a private hospital facilitated by RC Pune Pristine, RID 3131, in the form of a CSR fund-based Rotary Foundation India grant of ₹4.2 crore. “This landmark medical project will make life better for countless patients suffering from the disease,” said TRF trustee Bharat Pandya.

He was speaking at the inauguration of a Radiation and CT Scan Centre at the Integrated Cancer Treatment and Research Centre (ICTRC) at Wagholi, an eastern suburb of Pune. The new centre was the club’s second such facility after its first Radiation Therapy Centre (GG: $860,000) at the Surya ­Sahyadri Hospital was opened by the then RI President Jennifer Jones in July 2022. The new Radiation Centre is also the product of a special purpose JV between the Pune club, ICTRC and Onco-Life Hospitals resulting in the installation of assets and treatment facilities worth ₹12 crore at the ­cancer research hospital. “Radiation and surgery are important weapons in the fight against cancer, and the new centre is an effective tool ­offering quality, affordable care for people. In India 1.4 million new cancer patients are being treated each year, and given the compounded annual growth of 10 per cent, after the next 5–7 years, we will have two million new cases every year,” he warned

While surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are the three pillars in the fight against cancer, “I am delighted that TRF money is being used for a sustainable medical project like the radiation centre to make treatment affordable to all patients. Sitting at Evanston (in Chicago, US), we may lose perspective of the grassroots reality, and I will be happy to report about this medical grant project to the RI board and TRF trustees,” he said, and hoped that “other clubs will also replicate such long-term, innovative medical projects.”

Appreciating the club’s initiative DG Shital Shah said that till now, the club has done projects worth ₹14 crore this Rotary year.

DRFC Shailesh Palekar said as a doctor it gave him “a lot of ­happiness to see the new radiation centre brought to life as I was closely ­associated with this project ever since it was mooted by past president Sudin Apte.” Out of 1.46 million new ­cancer patients each year, “at least eight lakh have to undergo radiation, and most of them are from rural areas and can’t afford cancer treatment.”

Pristine cancer care network

Since 2020, RC Pune Pristine is working to create a network of cancer care hospitals (nine centres till now) offering free or ­affordable treatment to underprivileged patients.

Club medical projects convener Sudin Apte, the chief architect of the hospital network, said through facilities such as OT, ICU, radiation, chemo ward, surgical accessories etc, at these nine hospitals, through GGs, CSR funds and other resources, “we have helped around 5,500 patients to get either free or subsidised treatment in a year.” The hospitals will be availing the PM’s Ayushman Bharat and the state MJPJAY schemes to offer ‘cashless’ treatment to poor people.

Additionally, the club is sponsoring the treatment of 500 cancer patients. “In the last four years, our club has spent ₹18–20 crore for treatment of cancer patients in these hospitals,” he explained.

It all started in 2020, when the club entered into a tripartite MoU with the Surya Sahyadri ­Hospital, state and central governments. In accordance with this, the hospital will dedicate a 125-bed ward for free or affordable cancer treatment “if only Rotary clubs set up infrastructure ­facilities worth ₹15 crore.” Since then, RC Pune Pristine, as the lead club, had set up a radiation centre, upgraded the ICU, chemo ward and OT at a total cost of ₹12 crore (all through GGs). RC Pune Central has set up a dialysis centre (GG: ₹1.5 crore); RC Pune Pashan has inaugurated a diagnostic centre (GG: ₹50 lakh); and RC Pune Khadki has installed a skin bank (₹1 crore). All of this put together, medical facilities worth ₹15 crore have been provided to make possible either free or subsidised treatment to 2,500 patients a year.

Now, with the new radiation centre, the club, through its tie-up with other hospitals, will transport patients from those centres which don’t have radiation machines to ICTRC. Free meals will be provided to all patients along with a caregiver through the course of treatment, and medical kits will be distributed to overcome the side effects of radiation, added Apte.

Elated over the high-tech ­radiation unit, Dr Arvind Kulkarni, director, Oncology, ICTRC, recalled that the charity hospital was set up in 1994 by Sardeshmukh Maharaj, a spiritual leader, through grants from the Atomic Energy Commission and GoI for installing a Cobalt machine. “Alternative therapies like Ayurveda are also given to patients. With the new centre, we can do radiation on 1,200 patients a year, 80 per cent of them free, compared 400 beneficiaries earlier. Besides, we also do 1,200 surgeries including 300 on cancer patients; and 1,000 chemotherapies.” Uday Deshmukh, MD, Onco-Life Hospitals said they were happy to partner with ICTRC. “Nobody had thought we two can partner to provide free cancer care to the underprivileged patients, before Rotary stepped in.”

Bridging the gap

With rising incidence of cancer, growing at a rate of 5–7 per cent each year in India, there are around 9,000 patients out of 15,000, that is 60 per cent, visiting Pune who are found to have solid tumours, hence “they get prescribed for radiation therapy before surgery,” said Sudin Apte, the club’s medical projects convener.

But 36 per cent of those ­‘prescribed for radiation,’ that is 3,500 new patients, can’t afford the radiation cost of ₹1.5–₹2 lakh. The club estimates that 1,500 patients among them are able to get free treatment at some Pune hospitals due to government schemes, “but we had to bridge the gap of 2,000 patients who are left in the lurch,” explained Apte.

Earlier in her address, club president Shilpa Bhosekar said their seven-year-old, 30-member club has given $1 million to TRF, and has done eight global grant projects worth $2.1 million.

AKS member Anil Goel from RC Poona Downtown has donated ₹36.3 lakh under a CSR grant from his company, Duroshox. PDGs Girish Gune, Pankaj Shah, ICTRC doctors and paramedical staff were present at the inaugural.