The Foundation

India, with its rapidly growing population of 1.4 billion, is witnessing a concerning rise in the absolute number of new cancer cases. In 2023, approximately 1.5 million cases were reported by the Indian Council of Medical Research – National Cancer Registry Programme. It's crucial to remember that these figures only represent diagnosed cases, and the actual number is likely higher. This trend is projected to continue, with cancer incidences increasing by about nine percent per decade. By 2050, India is expected to have 3.4 million cancer patients.

Cancer care in India faces significant challenges, including low awareness, late detection, limited access to treatment, and high treatment costs. These challenges are further compounded by critical gaps in the existing cancer care model. These gaps include inadequate infrastructure, a shortage of healthcare professionals, and an overwhelming burden on existing resources.

The early to late-stage cancer detection ratio is 30:70. Patients must often travel long distances to get access to care, thus increasing their out-of-pocket costs for travel, stay and food.

The Tata Trusts have a long legacy of Cancer Care, starting in 1941 when they established the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai (then Bombay). In 2012, the Trusts established the Tata Medical Center in Kolkata to address the lacunae in cancer treatment in the eastern and north-eastern regions of the country. Five years later, in 2017, the Trusts established the Tata Cancer Care Foundation in India (TCCF, earlier known as Alamelu Charitable Foundation), a Section 8 Company to transform Cancer Care in India.

TCCF’s primary focus is to implement the Trusts’ ambitious Cancer Care Initiative: ensuring affordable, high-quality healthcare to millions of Indians, closer to their homes. The purpose is driven by a set of values – Integrity, Excellence, Compassion, Responsibility and Pioneering.