Tata Memorial Centre – Torch bearer for Care of Cancer in India
Vol 2 | Issue 1 | Jan- Apr 2016 | page:1-2 | Dr. Yogesh Panchwagh & Dr. Ashok Shyam.
Author: Dr. Yogesh Panchwagh [1], Dr. Ashok Shyam [2,3].
[1]Orthopaedic Oncology Clinic, Pune, India.
[2] Indian Orthopaedic Research Group, Thane, India
[3] Sancheti Institute for Orthopaedics &Rehabilitation, Pune, India
Address of Correspondence
Dr. Yogesh Panchwagh.
Orthopaedic Oncology Clinic, 101, Vasanth plot 29, Bharat Kunj Society -2, Erandwana, Pune – 38, India.
Email: drpanchwagh@gmail.com
Editorial: Tata Memorial Centre – Torch bearer for Care of Cancer in India
“Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living”: Albert Einstein.
Rarely does a place, a hospital in particular along with its healthcare providers, epitomise Einstein’s words as closely as India’s topmost tertiary cancer care hospital: Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai. As this editorial is being penned, TMH celebrates its platinum jubilee following its motto of service, education and research religiously throughout these years. This editorial is thus dedicated to this fine institution, which is also Asia’s largest cancer care hospital. Inaugurated on 28th February 1941, by the then governor of Mumbai Sir Roger Lumley, was a 80 bedded, 15000 square meters building. It was then expected to be a center where specialized treatment could be given and one which could lead the path of newer treatment modalities for others to follow. And it has not disappointed. It has now reached new heights with 700 beds and 75000 square meters campus, all in the service of cancer patients not just from all across India but also from the other Asian, African and Middle Eastern nations as well. TMH today leads the war against cancer in India, as Sir Lumley expected it to do. It is recognized amongst the top 5 cancer care institutes globally. This is evident from the current annual numbers of 45,000 new patients and 4,50,000 follow up patients that this institute takes care of. A philanthropic gesture by the Dorabjee Tata trust to start with, later on bloomed into a clinical wing (Tata Memorial Hospital) and a research wing (Cancer Research Institute) which together grew as Tata Memorial Centre (TMC). It was later on brought under the aegis of the Government of India. The research activities in clinical branches and basic sciences fields are carried on in the dedicated unit of ACTREC (Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer) at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India. The educational activities include training of students in specialty and super specialty courses affiliated to Homi Bhabha National Institute. In fact most of the practicing doctors in field of oncology in various corners of the country, including the editorial board of Journal of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors, have been associated with this premier institute at some point of time in their lives and correctly take pride in their alma mater. The work done by the Disease managemen t group (DMG) of Bone and soft tissue services at TMH is worth noticing since this unit deals with the subject related to JBST. As per figures from DMG, the outpatient department (OPD) numbers have increased from 800 in the year 2000 to the present number of 2000 new patients in 2014. In 2014, this unit catered to around 300 new osteosarcoma cases, 200 new Ewing sarcomas, 57 Chondrosarcomas and 339 soft tissue sarcomas apart from 275 benign bone and soft tissue tumors. This forms a significant 5% of the entire work at TMH. Thousands of cancer patients and their relatives are the ones that are benefited in turn, bearing fruit to the very roots on which this institution stands firmly. The numerous individuals who dedicated their entire lives to the betterment of this institute, including some not amongst us today, would certainly and rightfully be very proud today. The editorial board of JBST salutes the passion, determination and dedication of Team TMC.
Dr Yogesh Pachwagh
Dr Ashok Shyam
(some facts and figures are based on the information taken from the TMC platinum jubilee website and B.S.T, D.M.G, T.M.H)
Yogesh Panchwagh & Ashok Shyam
| How to Cite this article: Panchwagh Y, Shyam AK. Tata Memorial Centre – Torch bearer for Care of Cancer in India. Journal of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors Jan- April 2016; 2(1):1-2. |
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