Page 16 - TT-TCCF_Annual_Report

India has been experiencing an increasing burden of cancer, with
almost 2 million new cases every year. Most of these are detected
in the later stages leading to nearly 50% mortality rates. The
problem of high incidence and late detection is aggravated by
various factors like shortage of infrastructure and skilled
manpower to treat the disease. The cancer care facilities are
concentrated mainly in the larger cities causing the patients and
caregivers to travel long distances and incurring high
out-of-pocket expenses.
To address this mounting burden of Cancer and with a vision to
transform Cancer Care in India with a comprehensive cancer care
model, Tata Trusts in 2017, set up Tata Cancer Care Foundation
(TCCF) (formerly Alamelu Charitable Foundation) to implement
the Cancer Care Programme. The primary objective was to address
critical challenges such as poor infrastructure, shortage of medical
experts, and late detection in a phased and systematic manner. The
Cancer Care Programme is anchored on a four-pillar Distributed
Cancer Care Model (DCCM). Its mission is to reduce mortality and
morbidity due to cancer through awareness, prevention and early
detection by providing quality and a ordable care closer to
people’s homes.”
TCCF has been setting-up the development of Cancer Care
facilities as per a step-down approach.
OVERVIEW In keeping with this principle, a distributed hierarchy of facilities is underway in 17 cancer hospitals (one L1, five L2s and eleven L3s) across
the State, H to spread the support. Accordingly, a distributed hierarchy of facilities has been and is being created, with 17 cancer hospitals,
comprising one L1, five L2s and eleven L3s spread across the State.
In Assam, the incidence of Cancer has been a growing threat and poses a significant healthcare challenge. The Indian Council of Medical In April 2022, the Prime Minister inaugurated 7 cancer hospitals in Assam. The hospitals in Dibrugarh and Barpeta are Level 2 facilities and
Research (ICMR) reported a staggering 50317 cases in 2020, though the true number may be significantly higher. Tragically, 70% of these Jorhat, Tezpur, Lakhimpur, Darrang, and Kokrajhar are Level 3 centres.
cases are detected at an advanced stage, intensifying the struggle of the patients against this formidable adversary. The scarcity of
essential infrastructure and skilled medical professionals to combat this challenging disease further adds to the complexity. The lack of An apex centre of 350 beds is being set up in Guwahati. This state-of-the-art facility will provide advanced medical services and will also
awareness casts a shadow over the region, as many are unaware of preventive measures. Moreover, the una ordability of privatised serve as a hub for teaching, training, and research. Two L2 centres are underway in Silchar and Diphu.
healthcare providers adds to the financial hurdles of those seeking assistance in their battle against cancer.
To further improve access to quality cancer care facilities, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for 7 cancer care hospitals at
Dhubri, Nalbari, Goalpara, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Tinsukia and Golaghat.
STRATEGISING AGAINST CANCER
Taking cognisance of the gravity of the cancer situation, the
Assam Government and Tata Trusts joined forces, sealing
their MoU on February 3, 2018. To execute this project, a
special-purpose vehicle called the Assam Cancer Care
Foundation (ACCF) was created. It is a special group formed as a
Section 8 company (not-for-profit) under the Companies Act
2013. This group has both the Government of Assam and Tata
Trusts with equal roles on the board, working together to make
change happen.

As part of the Distributed Cancer Care Model (DCCM), a
specialised strategy to make cancer care more accessible and
personalised for patients was devised, aiming to o er consistent
and a ordable treatment. Instead of centralising all the services
in one hospital, the model focuses on decentralising the support.

14 Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF)