|
With an aim to ensure patients get timely and quality treatment, Cytecare Cancer Hospital is planning to start four 150-bedded organ site cancer hospitals in a hub and spoke model in different parts of the country with an investment of around Rs. 700 crore.
A majority of the fund will be raised through equity partners. In December 2016 we started a 160 bedded organ site cancer hospital in Bengaluru headed by a team of dedicated doctors with the investment of Rs. 200 crore. The hospital is fully equity-funded and has served 2,500 patients since its inception, said Ferzaan Engineer, Co-founder & Chairman, Cytecare Cancer Hospital.
“We are also planning to start 3-4 more organ site cancer hospitals in big cities. Our aim is to set up a big hospital with 3-4 smaller centres so that people can access certain services easily. Currently we are working to finalise second cancer hospital early next year. For other two hospitals we are looking into various options whether it will be brownfield or greenfield,” said Engineer.
Cancer treatment needs multi-specialty approach. In India about 70% of cancer patients die because of late detection. Late detection leads to poor treatment outcome. Only 20-25 per cent cases get treated in the country as compared to 50 per cent cases in developed countries. Cancer patients' reach to super specialty is very low. Our vision is to ensure patients get quality treatment in a timely manner. We conduct screening camps in rural areas to ensure that patients get diagnosed early, he added.
The Bengaluru hospital includes cancer care facilities like chemotherapy, advanced surgical and critical care capabilities including state-of-the-art operating rooms and ICUs, and radiotherapy along with nuclear medicine (PET-CT), radiology (MRI, CT, Ultrasound, XRay, 3D Mammography), diagnostics, laboratory and full-fledged blood bank backed by global standards and care protocols in prevention and treatment of cancer.
The 15-member tumor board at the hospital comprising of specialists from surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology and pathology discusses each case thoroughly before recommending treatment. It helps patients choose best treatment option. The hospital has a dedicated team for palliative care. It is also exploring partnership with hospitals in neighboring countries such as Middle East and Maldives.
It started immunotherapy and genetic profiling of cancer patients to optimize treatment.
To further clinical research in cancer, the hospital has set up institutional ethics committee and is awaiting approval from DCGI. Once approval is received, it will take up clinical research programme.
|