Path breaking initiative in cancer treatment
DUE TO MODERN lifestyle and environment, the risk of cancer is rising rapidly among the masses. And the treatment involves multimodality intervention like surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hence, is an expensive and difficult treatment process. Public sector hospitals are still the only option for majority of cancer patients but there exists a huge gap between the increasing number of cancer patients and the treatment facilities available across the country. This leads to overburdening on institutes like AIIMS and long waiting lists. Private sector in major metros have good infrastructure, but are expensive. In a nutshell, it is not just the lack of awareness but also lack of access to right treatment at the right time and unattainable costs which contribute to rising cancer deaths.
UMEED is a small but path breaking contribution to bridge this huge gap by providing timely and quality treatment to the patients, irrespective of their financial capacity to afford the same. It stands for quality and affordable cancer care.
UMEED is an initiative envisioned by Dr Mandeep S Malhotra which is being materialized with help of Lalita Rakyn, and Lioness club, Distt 321-A2, his colleague Dr Deepak Jha and ably assisted by his team Dr Mansi Chowhan, Dr Neha Sharma and Manjit Singh. The above mentioned medical team are experts in Breast preservation and reconstruction while operating Breast Cancers and are among the few centers that treat highly advanced or recurrent Head Neck Cancers. The management of Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj and Bala Pritam Cancer Care at Guru Harkrishan Hospital, Gurudwara Bala Sahib has been instrumental in bringing Umeed to reality. Fortis hospital, Vasant Kunj provides more than 40 % subsidy to the surgeries being done under the UMEED initiative while Bala Pritam Cancer care continues to serve as a charitable institute and has also pledged to make arrangements for stay for the patient and their caregivers. There is immense support for the program from oncologists, pathologists, radiologists and whole medical fraternity in the region.
In the first phase, UMEED will focus on treatment of breast, oral (mouth) and thyroid cancers since these are the most common cancers in India. The initiative aims to provide and facilitate cancer treatment (surgery and chemotherapy) for these patients. The treatment will be free of cost to patients from the underprivileged sections of the society and The Lioness Club, Distt 321-A2 will provide funds for the same.