Narayana Hrudayalaya opens cancer care centre

Narayana Hrudayalaya, one of the largest cardiac hospitals in the world, has announced the launch of `Mazumdar Shaw Centre for Cancer Research' at the Health City, near Bengaluru.

The 1,000-bed super speciality cancer research and multi-specialty hospital, located at the 5,000-bed Health City, will be launched in the first week of January 2009.

Built in a five-lakh sq ft facility at Narayana Hrudayalaya health city, the Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre would provide treatment for head and neck cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer.

''In India, cancer is the most common cause of death after cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately cancer is detected at a late stage, significantly increasing the mortality of the patient. To add to the woes of the patients, treatment of cancer is extremely expensive. With this hospital, we aim at addressing this very problem of economics and ensure immediate, effective and most importantly, affordable treatment to every patient that walks into the hospital," Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, chairman of Narayana Hrudayalaya, said, after attending the launch of the centre.

"I am extremely pleased to associate with the philanthropic idea, institutionalised by Dr Devi Shetty through Narayana Hrudayalaya. The existing outlook to treat cancer is not enough to combat the disease stemming out of the changing lifestyles of people in India. A much more comprehensive, research-based treatment protocol is required to strike a balance between making medical assistance available to those in need and developing an effective and hassle-free cancer treatment," Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said.

The hospital is developing a specialised team – Tumor Board - having a focused approach at specific body regions, which identifies individual characteristics of cancers. Every cancer patient visiting the Mazumdar-Shaw Cancer Centre for treatment would first be referred to the Tumor Board before deciding on specialised treatment.

The hospital also plans to reach out to the masses on an ongoing basis, like conducting cancer screening camps. It is also planning to set up outreaching centres across the state.

Any patient suspected or diagnosed with cancer could call either 080 2215 2020 or 9686600986 for queries or appointment with the hospital. People coming from lower socio economic strata would be offered treatment free of cost or at concessional rate.