New Delhi, Feb 22: Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre (RGCIRC) has spent around Rs 50 crore from its welfare fund towards free and subsidized cancer care for the needy patients, reiterating its commitment to ensure that no cancer patient is denied treatment or compelled to discontinue care due to lack of funds.
This initiative has provided crucial financial support ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakhs, helping numerous patients depending on their needs and strengthening RGCIRC’s commitment to accessible and affordable cancer care.
Several corporates, non-governmental organisations and individual donors have joined hands with RGCIRC to support the noble cause.
The Department of Philanthropic Services at RGCIRC hosted its annual conference themed "Empowering Cancer Care with Ethics, Empathy & Excellence," showcasing the values reflected in RGCIRC’s newly designed logo. The event featured inspiring stories from cancer survivors and the release of a special booklet, "Healing Hearts – The Power of Giving” highlighting the transformative impact of compassion in cancer care through heartfelt stories, valuable insights, and contributions from patients, donors, and stakeholders.
Ashok Agarwal, Vice-Chairman, RGCIRC, recognizing the organizations for their incredible support to the RGCIRC’s mission, said, “This hospital started as a vision of helping everyone in need and the contributions enabled us to provide cutting-edge treatments, support early diagnosis and prevention programs. We are also aiming to partner with more numbers of donors who can join us in our mission”
Speaking at the event, D S Negi, CEO, RGCIRC, stressed on the importance of sustained philanthropic efforts in transforming cancer care, and said, “Through the generous contributions of philanthropists, we have been able to launch numerous programs. We spend nearly Rs 50 crore per annum towards patient welfare initiatives. Of this, Rs 6 to 7 crore come from donations made by NGOs and other organizations. However, despite the strides we have made, there is still much work to be done. The challenges we face are complex, but I firmly believe that with continued support, collaboration, and a shared commitment to improving healthcare for all, we can overcome them.”
Dr Sudhir Rawal, Medical Director, RGCIRC, who acknowledged the role of technology in advancing the treatment outcome for patients said, “We managed to acquire a robot despite challenges, and today, we are among the leaders in robotic surgery. Similarly, in CAR-T therapy, we are seeking support to establish this treatment in our hospital. We have already set up the facility and are actively working on it. It is a massive undertaking that requires significant funding."
The event was graced by Chief Guest Ayush Gupta, Director Human Resource, GAIL (India) Ltd, who noted that health and nutrition are key factors that need attention today while reaffirming the power of giving.
Dr A K Dewan, Director, Surgical Oncology, RGCIRC, during a talk highlighted the significance of ‘Professionalism, Ethics, Empathy, and Excellence’ in cancer care that resonates with the refreshed logo of RGCIRC. Dr. Ravinder Mohan, Medical Director, CanSupport, discussed the Role of Multidisciplinary Teams in Cancer Palliative Care, while Ms. Jyotsna Govil, Chairperson, India Cancer Society, Delhi Branch, delivered insights on the profound impact of giving.
A panel discussion on "How to Bridge the Gap – Accessibility and Affordability in Cancer Care" was led by Dr. Ullas Batra, co-Director Medical Oncology and Chief of Thoracic Medical Oncology, RGCIRC which featured distinguished panelists including Dr. Sandeep Jain, Senior Consultant, Pediatric Hematology Oncology, RGCIRC; Mr. Sushil Batra, CFO & Executive Director of Relaxo Footwear Ltd; Dr Amit Gupta, Senior Medical Director, HCL Healthcare; Ms. Meenakshi Dhingra, Founder Tanisa Foundation and Mr. Rajesh Chetan, President, Bhiwani Pariwar Maitri Sangh.
These leaders reiterated their commitment to supporting RGCIRC's mission, emphasizing the crucial role of corporate and NGO partnerships and collective responsibility to ensure expansion of life-saving treatments, advance research, and make quality care accessible to all.
Established in 2019, the Department of Philanthropic Services has played a vital role in coordinating patient welfare programs, working independently and alongside other institutions and NGOs. RGCIRC's initiatives extend beyond Delhi, benefiting patients from neighbouring states and supporting international patients through crowdfunding for treatment.
Organizations such as GAIL (India), Coal India, BPCL, EIL, Relaxo India Ltd (Mool Chand Dua Memorial Society), Yuvraj Singh Foundation, and the India Cancer Society and others are supporting the RGCIRC’S mission through their CSR initiatives to facilitate treatment of needy patients.
Established in 1996, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre (RGCIRC) is counted among Asia’s premier exclusive cancer centres offering the unique advantage of cutting-edge technology, and expertise provided by super specialists. Spread over nearly 2 Lakh square feet area, with a current capacity of 500+ beds at Rohini along with another unit at Niti Bagh, RGCIRC is one of the largest tertiary cancer care centres in the continent. With a track record of serving more than 3.5 Lakh patients, the institute offers best-in-class techniques such as whole-body robotic surgery, Cyberknife, Tomotherapy, True Beam (the next generation Image Guided Radiation Therapy), Intra-Operative Brachytherapy, PET- MRI fusion, and many more.
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