Our approach
- About us
- Our approach
‘Transform Cancer Care in India,’ is the ambitious vision of the Tata Trusts, to fulfil which Tata Cancer Care Foundation (TCCF) has been conceptualized. To tackle the burgeoning burden, TCCF has developed an innovative ‘Distributed Model of Cancer Care’ having four pillars.
Distributed Model of Cancer Care
Enhanced Access
To ensure availability of care at every level a tiered service delivery model has been adopted. The model comprises of four levels. Level 1 are going to be Apex centres of care providing advanced diagnostic services to comprehensive treatment to prevention, awareness and early detection facilities. Research and academics work will also be carried out at Apex centres. Level two will be dedicated cancer units annexed to Government Medical Colleges OR Multi-Specialty Hospitals. Diagnostics and day care units annexed to District Hospitals will form Level three. Awareness, community screening and home based palliative care spread across all levels and beyond will form Level four. All units will have standardized designs, world-class interiors and best in class medical equipment. Large scale infrastructure development will be supplemented with trained healthcare professionals and workers. Bespoke standardized and accredited courses are being created. The programme will focus on providing consistent training, growth and development opportunities.
Uniform High Quality Care
Technology will be leveraged to provide uniform high quality care. A centralized command centre will ensure seamless flow of information and clinical services. Clinical services comprising of remote location radiology and pathology reporting, virtual consultation and virtual tumor board etc. All units of the program will be a part of National Cancer Grid (NCG); a network of cancer centres and institutions across India which works towards, establishing uniform standards of patient care, providing specialized training and education, and facilitating research.
Uniform High Quality Care pillar will ensure that the care delivered and envisioned is along international clinical guidelines and protocols.
Affordable Care
To make sure that maximum number of patients; receive cancer treatment; complete their treatment; and do not leave treatment mid-way for want of funds; the programme will focus on providing affordable care for the underprivileged through subsidized pricing, insurance schemes, innovative purchase and financing mechanisms.
Early Detection
This pillar focuses on addressing grass root level issues to reduce cancer burden in the country. The focus is on early detection of non-communicable diseases including cancer by way of regular screening and increased awareness of symptoms and signs of cancers.
We work with government and non-government stakeholders in order to implement tobacco control activities to reduce consumption of smoked and smokeless forms of tobacco. The team has associated with National Health Mission to strengthen the system for screening and detection of common cancers, namely, oral, breast and cervical cancers.
The catchment team of the program is working along with staff of Public Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs) etc. for screening and awareness activities. We are also working towards strengthening palliative and after care.
The work is ongoing in the states of Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.