National Cancer Grid, coordinated by Tata Memorial, gets ₹100 cr from Axis Bank

A national tumour biobank and cancer teleconsultation network are among the projects that will be supported by a ₹100crore contribution from Axis Bank towards the National Cancer Grid (NCG).

As part of the five year partnership, Axis Bank will support NCG, a network of 300plus cancer centres across the country, coordinated by the Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), under the Tata Memorial Centre. The aim is to improve cancer care and research, in terms of access and digital adoption, a note from Axis Bank said, on formalising a Memorandum of Understanding with Tata Memorial.

The bank said it would support the setting up of projects such as the National Tumour Biobank, National Cancer Teleconsultation Network, and Oncologyspecific Electronic Medical Records (EMRs).

STANDARDISE SYSTEMS

This will help standardise systems across the NCGaffilialted centres and help patients who will not need to travel for followups across States, for example, when a teleconsultation network and digital patients records are in place, explained Abhejit Agarwal, Axis Bank’s Senior VicePresident (Sustainability & CSR). About 40 percent of data get lost, as patients grapple with multiple reports and records, Agarwal told businessline, citing information from Tata Memorial. Once up and running, the initiative could be a case study for other noncommunicable diseases that India is grappling with, he added. The initiatives will also align with the adoption of the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) across the country, the note said.

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