Affordability and accessibility are major challenges to cancer patients. To make cancer care accessible and affordable at the district level and to bring down the incidence of its preventable forms, Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) has conceptualized the project “Access to Affordable Cancer Care for One and All” in collaboration with the Public Health Department of Maharashtra with the objective to strengthen cancer care services at district government institutes.
This project was launched on a pilot basis in 6 districts of Maharashtra in June 2016. After the successful rolling out of this project in Phase-I of 6 districts, this project has been expanded to the remaining districts of Maharashtra.
Dr. Rajendra Badwe,(Director of TMC), Dr. Shripad Banavali, (Director of Academics, TMC), Dr. Vijay Baviskar (Joint Director, NCD, Public Health Department of Maharashtra) and Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi (Deputy Director, Centre for Cancer Epidemiology, Professor, Head and Neck Oncology Surgeon, TMC and Director of International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies) officially announced on Monday (July 31, 2023) that Phase-II of the project has been rolled out in the remaining districts of the state.
In commemoration of World Head and Neck Cancer Day, which falls on the 27th of July every year, a scientific workshop was organized for Dental Surgeons by Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai and the Public Health Department of Maharashtra under the Access to Affordable Cancer Care for One and All Project.
During the inaugural function of the workshop, Interim project report was released by the dignitaries on the dais. Also, to strengthen oral cancer services at the district level, the official launching of Maharashtra Oral Cancer Warriors was done. Maharashtra Cancer Warriors (MCWs) is a voluntary group of oncologists who are alumni of TMH racticing in their respective districts. MCWs have taken a novel initiative to provide free services at District Civil Hospitals in Medical and Surgical oncology.
Dr. Rajendra Badwe, Director of TMC, appreciated the efforts taken by the Public Health Department of Maharashtra for cancer prevention and capacity building of health services staff on early detection, screening and prevention of common cancers and the establishment of cancer day care centres at district civil hospitals of Maharashtra.
Dr. Vijay Baviskar, Joint Director of NCD, who was the Chief Guest on the occasion, briefed about cancer control activities conducted by the Public Health Department of Maharashtra in collaboration with Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.
Dr. Shripad Banavali, Director of Academics, TMC, in his keynote address, briefed about the importance of NCD screening and how to improve cancer care services at the district level by practicing cancer procedures.
Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi (Deputy Director, Centre for Cancer Epidemiology, Professor, Head and Neck Oncology Surgeon, TMC, and Director of International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies) explained the concept behind launching the Maharashtra Oral Cancer Warriors and cancer control activities conducted under the “Access to Affordable Cancer Care for One and All”.
The scientific workshop saw the participation of 200 delegates from the Public Health Department of Maharashtra, Doctor of Government Dental Colleges and other private associations. The highlight of the workshop was a live demonstration of the identification of premalignant and malignant conditions of oral cancer and a demonstration of oral biopsies techniques by Head and Neck Cancer surgeons.
