The socio-economic scenario in India is such that millions who notice symptoms they know to be wrong are either ignorant of their implications, or where they are aware of the implications, they cannot afford treatment; or where they can possibly afford treatment, wait three months or more before seeing a doctor. And in so doing they forfeit their best chances of cure if their ailment turns out to be malignant.
The organisation’s experience in palliative care over two decades suggested that many cancer patients, especially women from lower socio-economic sections of the community do not undergo treatment purely due to the lack of finances. They reach an advanced stage where treatment options to effectively save lives become limited. There are some young women in early stages of cancer and some young mothers with good prognosis who would benefit with timely treatment if they have access to free or highly subsidized cancer treatment.
Providing expensive and unaffordable cancer treatment free of cost to these needy poor patients with good prognosis is being tried as a philanthropic measure. It is considered that organizing trained staff, purchase and administering of chemo drugs, soliciting funds from philanthropic individuals and institutions is difficult but not impossible. The true challenge lies in the process of the selection procedure of patients deserving free treatment with a specific laid down criteria without any bias to achieve the objective of providing free treatment.
Care India Medical Society has made this foray into therapeutic services in February 2013 and is providing free chemotherapy to women with specific cancers, namely Ca Breast, Ca Cervix and Ovarian Cancer to start with. Cases requiring surgery are benefitted with the support of Command (Military) Hospital and AFMC and adequate liaison is maintained to coordinate this effort. At present, free chemotherapy is being provided to four patients registered every month.
In the last financial year (2013-14), chemotherapy was provided free of cost to 39 women from the lower socio-economic sections of society.
We intend providing free chemotherapy services to 60 poor and needy women during this financial year (2014-15) and make it to 100 patients if adequate financial support is received.
“Even if a life can be mitigated by five to ten years by providing chemotherapy, this would greatly help their small children to stand on their feet.”