Free treatment to 40% patients

Tirupati: Sri Venkateswara Institute of Cancer Care and Advance Research (SVICAR) coming up here had earmarked 40 percent for poor patients to avail free treatment in the cancer hospital floated by Tata Trust as part of its social service programmes.

According to TTD Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal, as per the MoU between the Tata Trust and TTD, SVICAR has agreed to provide free treatment to 40 per cent of the eligible patients coming to the hospital for treatment.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu along with Tata Trust Chairman Ratan Tata laid the foundation stone for SVICAR which would function as a cancer grid in South India, with state of the art facilities, here on August 31.

However, many leaders of political parties including Left and Congress opposed TTD giving the land to the Tata Trust for setting up the advanced cancer treatment facility and research, on the ground that it would not benefit the poor patients as the treatment is on payment basis.

Against the backdrop, Singhal clarification at a media conference after ‘Dial Your EO’ programme in Tirumala on Friday assumes significance as it scotched the rumours on Tata Cancer Hospital.

No poor patient would be denied treatment as the MoU assures ‘no refusal policy’ i.e. no eligible poor cancer patient coming to the hospital would not be turned down even if the quota of 40 per cent exceeds, Singhal affirmed in an effort to put an end to the adverse campaign and misconception against Tata Cancer Hospital.