How Ratan Tata spearhead India's fight against cancer

Ratan Tata passes away: Ratan Tata, the vision-minded industrialist and former Chairman of Tata Sons, is so vividly recalled for outstanding contributions to business but, above all, for his unrivaled commitment to philanthropy. Amisd this sea of countless causes he fought for, one emerged: cancer care, perhaps more widespread, arguably one of the most impactful efforts. Through the Tata Trusts, he led colossal resources and passion for improving cancer treatment facilities, research, and awareness in India; indeed, he made a very positive difference to the lives of millions.

The story begins with the Tata Memorial Hospital:

The Tata Group's entry into health care traces its roots way before the era of Ratan Tata to the 1941 establishment of Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) in Mumbai. But it was under the umbrella of Ratan Tata that the hospital emerged as one of the best centers for cancer treatment and research in the country. His involvement was not only financially but personally as well, interested in developing the capacity and capabilities of the hospital so that it can serve patients from all over India, particularly the deprived ones.

Tata realised that cancer care had to reach each one's doorstep. Economical burden of treatment on patients being relieved, TMH earned a name not only for infra or infrastructure but also for its approach: free or economically viable for those in need. Patient-centric infrastructure provided by Tata Trusts ensured that the unprivileged communities got services of the highest order.

Internationalisation of Cancer Care in India

The vision of Ratan Tata did not end at Mumbai. He understood that for any meaningful change to occur in the way of treating cancer, India needed to go beyond urban cities and into places where medical care was virtually nonexistent. At this point, during his tenure, the Tata Trusts embarked on numerous projects geared towards building cancer care units in different backdrops of India.

State governments and local health bodies were also further assisted by Ratan Tata in establishing cancer hospitals and treatment facilities in small towns and cities. The facility was to provide comprehensive cancer care - diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Decentralization of healthcare services helped Ratan Tata in bringing advanced cancer treatment for the people in the rural areas to their doorsteps so that patients should not have to travel long distances for care.

A part of this project included the new cancer hospitals in Assam and Uttar Pradesh. Facilities built to cater to patients from northeast and northern regions whose otherwise found limited accessibility to such specialized care, made available these services to drive the reduction of the health access disparities due to balancing the resultant urban-rural health access gaps.

Early Detection and Awareness

Ratan Tata always believed that the fight against cancer in India needed not just treatment but also early detection and prevention. The Tata Trusts, under his leadership, launched nationwide campaigns to spread awareness over the issue of early diagnosis, screening, and adopting life patterns that could reduce the risk of a person getting cancer.

Knowing that early detection can really make a difference in survival, Ratan Tata had mobile screening units that reached out to rural and poor areas. Free screening, breast, cervical, and oral cancers were among some of the most common prevalent forms of cancers in India. The idea was to reach out to people who would otherwise have not accessed such services, helping identify cancer cases at those earlier stages when they became more treatable.

As such, through partnerships with local organizations and NGOs, the Tata Trusts reached down to the grassroots level, where they trained various kinds of healthcare workers and volunteers who were encouraging communities by educating people on early warning signs about cancer and encouraging them to attend check-up services regularly. This was empowering people with knowledge