Under this, a donor can adopt a patient (any child whose parents are poor) and bear the medical expenses of that child.
Giving a ray of hope to the cancer-stricken of poor parents, the Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) is starting an initiative called ‘Adopt a patient’.Under this, a donor can adopt a patient (any child whose parents are poor) and bear the medical expenses of that child.It will be started by the paediatric department, where children below 15 years of age are admitted.Every year, 1,800 children enroll for treatment in the hospital from different parts of the country. TMH has the distinction of being the only hospital in India that deals with all kind of cancer diseases.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Once a kid is diagnosed with cancer, parents will have to spend Rs 2-3 lakh. just to control the disease.There are charity organisations, but they offer financial aid on the basis of documents like ration card, Aadhar card, income certificate and doctor’s letter.But, many people, especially those from other states may not have any kind of document, and, hence, do not get any assistance from these organisations. What’s more shocking is that the hospital has found that most of the times, parents leave the treatment half- way, if it is a girl.To help such patients, the hospital has created the ImPaCCT Foundation. ImPaCCT means Improving Pediatric Cancer Care and Treatment.It will address all needs of the patients. For the unfortunate child that dies, bereavement funds are also provided to the family for the last rites, including transport to his/ her home town.Through this foundation, last year, the hospital spent Rs 14 crore to help needy children. “There are lots of patients who need help, but there’s a funds crunch. Also, we are focusing on the girl child, “said Dr Shripad Banavali, head, medical and paediatric oncology department.”Now, when poor patients come to the hospital with a girl child, our staff give them maximum attention,” said Shalini Jatia, ImPaccT Foundation secretary.
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‘Adopt a patient’: Tata Memorial offers succour to cancer-stricken kids
