Profile
Service Research Education

        The Tata Memorial Centre is the national comprehensive cancer centre for the prevention, treatment, and education and recognized as one of the leading cancer centres in this part of the world. This achievement has been possible due to the far-sighted and total support of the Department of Atomic Energy, responsible for managing this Institution since 1962.

History

        The Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) was initially commissioned by the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust as a centre with enduring value and a mission for concern for the Indian people on 28 February 1941. In 1952 the Indian Cancer Research Centre was established as a pioneer research institute for basic research - later called the Cancer Research Institute(CRI). In 1957 the Ministry of Health took over the Tata Memorial Hospital. The transfer of the administrative control of the Tata Memorial Centre (Tata Memorial Hospital & Cancer Research Institute) to the Department of Atomic Energy in 1962 was the next major milestone. The Tata Memorial Hospital and Cancer Research Institute merged as the two arms of the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) in 1966 as a classic example of private philanthropy augmented by Government support with a mandate for Service, Education & Research in Cancer.

Patient Care

        The current activities and level of expertise in all spheres are worth recording. Every year nearly 30,000 new patients visit the clinics from all over India and neighbouring countries. Nearly 60% of these cancer patients receive primary care at the Hospital of which over 70 % are treated almost free of any charges. Over 1000 patients attend the OPD daily for medical advice, comprehensive care or for follow-up treatment. During the year 2002, over 20,000 new cases were registered in addition to over 11000 Referral Cards issued for only special investigations.

        Nearly 8500 major operations are performed annually and 5000 patients treated with Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy annually in multi-disciplinary programmes delivering established treatments. At the TMH, Evidence Based Medicine is the keystone of our endeavour. Apart from the patient care and service, clinical research programmes and randomized trials contribute increasingly to improved delivery of care and highest standards of work ethics. Surgery remains the vital form of treatment along with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The strategies for early diagnosis, treatment management, rehabilitation, pain relief and terminal care have been established in a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach for a total cancer care programme.

        Many advances have taken place in every speciality. In surgery, the changing concepts have taken into account the biology of cancer. Radical surgeries have yielded place to more conservative surgery with the very important objective of quality of life, conserving function and organ without compromising the overall survival outcomes. Radiation therapy has also made rapid advances with high technology, precision, computerization and newer isotopes for therapy. Chemotherapy has played a very major role, with new drugs and clinical protocols investigated in clinical trials. The TMH was the first centre in the country to initiate Bone Marrow Transplant in 1983. This has been possible due to better total supportive care using newer antibiotics, nutritional, blood transfusion support and nursing. Another important area of progress over the last few years has been radiological imaging techniques using ultrasound, CT Scanners, MRI and more dynamic real time nuclear medicine scanning and the PET Scan. Pathology has progressed from basic histopathology to molecular pathology with emphasis on predictive assays for identifying the high risk prognostic factors. Supportive care in the form of total rehabilitation and counseling of patients is widely recognized to be very important aspects of therapy. Excellent work has been carried out in areas of Patient Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychology and medical social work.

Cancer prevention:

        Preventive oncology has a very major and important role to play for early diagnosis, screening and down staging of cancer. Dept . of preventive Oncology was commissioned in the year 1993, which gives special focus on education in cancer prevention and early detection, cancer screening. Of the 2 to 2.5 million cases of cancer in the country over 70% of cases are detected late and report for treatment in very advanced stages. The emphasis on early detection would go a long way to dealing with the large numbers as well as to mitigate avoidable suffering and a financial burden. With this aim, TMC established its first Rural Outreach Cancer Centre at Barshi, Sholapur Dist. for early diagnosis and treatment in 1983. In 2003, the second Rural Outreach Center was setup in Chiplun, Ratnagiri District.

Clinical Research:

        A Scientific Review Committee critically reviews the proposed research programs and projects in detail and ensures that the research effort is at the cutting edge of an international effort. The Hospital Ethics Committee consisting of doctors and scientific officers of the centre and outside expert members in the field of medicine, law and social science critically evaluate the research and medical practices followed in the hospital. A separate Data Monitoring and Safety Committee, in addition, strictly evaluates and monitors all officially sanctioned intramural research programmes.

Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer:

        The Advanced Center for Treatment, Research and Education in cancer (ACTREC) has recently been established and commissioned in March 2002. ACTREC situated at Khargar, Navi Mumbai has two wings - the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) relocated from Parel and the Clinical Research Center (CRC) which, when commissioned will undertake basic and clinical research using GCP guidelines. Cancer Research Institute (CRI) since its inception has committed itself to research programmes on cancers prevalent in India. Research activities include areas such as lifestyles in relation to cancer patterns, environmental carcinogenesis - both chemical and viral, cancer immunology, cell and molecular biology with special emphasis on oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes and chemotherapy. There are groups working on development of new laboratory models for human cancers. Clinical research is conducted, using a multi- disciplinary approach, in collaboration with clinicians at the Tata Memorial Hospital, mainly on cancers prevalent in India such as tobacco-linked oral cancers, cancer of the cervix etc. The centre has achieved the distinction of being the first in the country to develop transgenic mice, carry out research on Human Gene Therapy, Cultivate HIV virus from Indian AIDS patients and develop a diagnostic kit. With the commissioning of the Clinical Research Center (CRC) in ACTREC shortl,y clinical research programmes will be initiated.

Education:

        The Tata Memorial Center is a recognized training centre for cancer education and research by national and international organizations such as WHO, IAEA and UICC. Tata Memorial Hospital is a postgraduate teaching centre and is affiliated to the University of Mumbai, National Board of Examinations and Maharashtra University of Health sciences. Every year about 80 post-graduate students register with the centre for doing their Masters or Doctorate Courses. There are about 400 students undergoing training every year in medical and non- medical fields in long and short term courses.

Hospital Information System:

        In line with recent advances in Information Technology, the Tata Memorial Center has established a comprehensive computerization of Medical Records and also improved communication by widening of the Electronic Mail and Internet facilities. With the escalation and pressured on our entire infrastructure, introduction of modern techniques of hospital management are required to ensure the least delay and discomfort to patients. We have therefore introduced professionals to review all our methods and systems for Total Quality Management in all areas to make our own work force and environment more amenable for optimum performance.

New Facilities

        A 12-storey block "The Tata Clinic and Faculty Block" is planned on the premises vacated by the CRI. This facility will house site specialty clinics. 70 additional beds, day care, academic offices, post graduate education, seminar rooms and Telemedicine Centre. In the final analysis, an Institution is judged by the quality of the staff. Our eminence is entirely due to their unquestioned and total dedication in the cause of fighting cancer. The Tata Memorial Centre will not rest on past achievements, splendid as they are, but will continue to give succor to our patients, offer them the best chance of cure, of life and relief from pain in continuing a tribute to the vision and dedication of those who have guided the destiny of this Institution.

Tobacco Related Cancers

Select Year      ICD Code     Select Gender         2001 2002 2001-2002 9 10 Males Females

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