Dharmashila Cancer and Research Centre

What started as 100 bed hospital has now expanded to 350 beds, making it the largest cancer hospital in North India. The Hospital has treated almost one lakh cancer patients so far Dharamshila Cancer Foundation and Research Centre was registered as an NGO to start North India's first state-of-the-art comprehensive cancer care and research centre. The hospital, located in Vasundhara Enclave, South-East Delhi, is spread across 3.5 acres of land. The first phase of Dharamshila Hospital and Research Centre (DHRC) with 100 beds was commissioned in July 1994. New facilities with an additional 250 beds were commissioned in October 2007, which has now expanded to 350 beds.

Revolutionising Cancer Care

"We are North India's first and largest cancer hospital" says Dr S Khanna, Executive Director. The hospital claims to have many firsts to its credit. "We are the only Hospital in India that treats brain tumours with interstitial implants using microselectron HDR with TCS (brachytherapy). Dharamshila is the first cancer hospital in India giving intra-arterial, intra-hepatic chemotherapy by continuous method using electronic pumps. It is also the first hospital in India to perform awake craniotomy in a brain cancer patient," claims Dr Khanna.

Modalities of Cancer Treatment

"We are North India's first and largest cancer hospital" - Dr S Khanna Executive Director Dharamshila Cancer Hospital

The hospital provides state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities and complete treatment radiation, surgery, chemotherapy, rehabilitation and palliative care under one roof. Most diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are available here. The department of radio-diagnosis and imaging offers facilities for nuclear scans, digital spiral CT scans, mammography, ultrasonography, echocardiography, endoscopies, digital radiography, CT and ultrasound-guided procedures. PET-CT will be installed shortly.

The department of radiation oncology has two linear accelerators with IMRT capabilities, microselectron HDR with TCS remote after loading brachytherapy equipment for providing intraluminal, intracavitary, interstitial and surface mould radiation in 10-15 minutes, compared to two-three days by conventional methods, three treatment planning systems (including 3-D eclipse TPS) and inverse planning system, amorphous silicon online treatment port verification system and mould room facilities.

Around 200-300 patients visit the hospital everyday. At present, the hospital has 50 full-time doctors and a panel of 60 visiting consultants in addition to 250 full-time and 150 outsourced employees. Since the new facilities were commissioned on October 20, 2007, about 100 additional employees have joined.

USP

"The USP of the hospital is complete cancer care under one roof, state-of-the-art infrastructure, dedicated and committed staff. Also every patient is reviewed by our tumour board consisting of medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gynaecological oncologists, pathologists, radiologists and imaging experts to chalk out detailed treatment plan as per standard treatment protocols, with just single consultation fee," says Dr S Khanna. It is the first hospital in India, that is given accreditation by National Board of examination for starting the Diplomate National Board (DNB) Programme in Medical Oncology and Surgical Oncology.

"We also ensure that there is no over treatment or under treatment, minimal hospitalisation, personalised services with positive attitude, compassion and smile, competitive rates with transparent billing, maximum cure rates and addition of quality to life," adds Dr Khanna.

IT Usage

IT is used in OPD registration, admissions, discharges and billing, material management, pharmacy, finance and accounts, medical records, census and cancer registry. "We are also planning to start telemedicine shortly," says Dr Khanna. The hospital has spent approximately Rs 60 lakh for IT.

CSR

The hospital spends around Rs 2-3 crore in CSR activities providing highly subsidised treatment to low income groups. During these campaigns, it organises screening of short films and generates awareness by distributing pamphlets, booklets and posters. The hospital has organised 151 free cancer detection camps and organises free cancer screening months (October-November) every year.

Receiving Foreign Patients

Medical tourism is fairly high on the hospital's agenda. The hospital is in touch with all the embassies and are receiving patients from Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh etc. Now that the hospital has expanded from 100 beds to 350 beds, it shall be actively pursuing medical tourism in collaboration with insurance companies and other relevant agencies.

Expanding Wings

Dharamshila Hospital is planning to commission a bone marrow transplant unit and install PET-CT. Telemedicine is also in the pipeline. The expansion will be funded by internal accruals, donations and bank loans. In addition to DNB programmes in oncology, the hospital also intends to start DNB programmes in anaesthesiology, pathology, radio-diagnosis and imaging and other specialities. The total expansion budget of the hospital sums up to Rs 60 crore.