Mumbai: In this financial year, the paediatric cancer dept of the centre-run Tata Memorial Centre raised around Rs 60 crore to ensure free treatment for the majority of 4,000-odd children with cancer treated in its various hospitals.
Roughly 6% of the sum—Rs 3.75 crore—was spent on a specialised subgroup or survivors of childhood cancer to help them stay healthy and pursue their lives like others. This expenditure underlines this year’s theme—”inspiring action”—for the International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) held on Feb 15 every year.
The hospital, which receives over 2,000-plus new paediatric patients every year, runs an ‘after completion of treatment’ (ACT) clinic to care for 5,465 survivors who come once a year or every two years for a follow-up. A part of the annual fund is used to help some of these survivors by either funding a computer course or any other vocational course.
“We raised Rs 60 crore through various govt schemes, corporate social responsibility initiatives, and donors this year,” said Shalini Jatia of IMPACCT Foundation (Improving Paediatric Cancer Care and Treatment), which was set up by the TMC roughly 15 years ago to ensure treatment and support for each paediatric cancer patient. The foundation also raises funds for providing free nutrition, classroom education in the hospital premises, and post-treatment care. A few years ago, it started providing financial support for paediatric cancer survivors to undergo professional courses. Survivors have studied computer, biomedical engineering, or management courses with the hospital’s support. In 2024-25, Rs 1.37 crore was used to provide educational support for survivors.
“Our ACT clinics enrol paediatric cancer survivors five years after they complete their treatment. Their families are encouraged to bring them for annual checks and for help with psychosocial issues as well,” said Jatia. The hospital has tied up with skill development centres to provide training for survivors who could benefit from such exposure.
“The idea is to showcase the fact that survivors can inspire action if they get holistic and sustained help,” she said.