Tata Trusts earmarks Rs 1000 cr to develop cancer hospitals in 5 states

The move will benefit thousands of cancer patients across the country to get access to treatment in their states or region. These patients, otherwise, would have to come to Mumbai from different parts of the country for getting treatment

Tata Trusts, one of India's biggest public charitable trusts, has promised to give Rs 1,000 crore in addition to other resources in a bid to support the Centre's efforts to develop cancer-care centres in five states, according to a report published in Mumbai Mirror.

The move will benefit thousands of cancer patients across the country to get access to treatment in their states or region. These patients, otherwise, would have to come to Mumbai from different parts of the country for getting treatment.

The Trusts will develop or upgrade facilities similar to Tata Memorial Hospital in five states namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

These new facilities will help reduce pressure on country’s premier cancer hospital which provides treatment at highly subsidies rates or free of cost to more than 50 percent of the patients. Most of the patients come from poor families and find it tough to stay longer in Mumbai owing to high costs and had to leave treatment halfway.

After Tata Trusts Chairman, Ratan Tata expressed his wish to open more affordable cancer centres in the country and pressed Tata Group companies to contribute through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) scheme.

The Tata Trusts owns more than 66 percent in Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group and has set aside a large chunk of profit for philanthropic purposes.