From Our Correspondent
Hyderabad: What began as a mother’s final wish to spare families the pain of losing loved ones to cancer has evolved into one of India’s leading cancer care institutions. Marking its Silver Jubilee on Monday, the Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital & Research Institute announced plans to establish a 1,000-bed integrated cancer hospital in Amaravati, expanding access to advanced oncology services across the Telugu states.
The milestone celebration commemorated 25 years of the hospital’s journey in delivering affordable, world-class cancer treatment, a mission inspired by Basavatarakam Nandamuri, wife of legendary actor and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao (NTR).
Before her death from cancer, Basavatarakam expressed a wish that no family should suffer the tragedy of losing a loved one simply because treatment was unaffordable or inaccessible. The Nandamuri family embraced that vision as a social responsibility, leading NTR to lay the foundation for the cancer hospital.
Over the past 25 years, under the leadership of Trust Chairman Nandamuri Balakrishna, and with the support of trustees, doctors, scientists, philanthropists and donors, the institution has grown into a major centre for cancer treatment, research and patient care.
A special presentation during the Silver Jubilee celebrations highlighted the hospital’s milestones, infrastructure expansion, medical advancements, patient support programmes and future growth plans.
At the foundation ceremony, NTR had famously said: “Humanity is my ideal. Society is my temple. The poor are the visible forms of God and serving them is serving God.” Those principles, hospital leaders said, continue to guide the institution’s mission.
The hospital’s journey began in 1988 when its foundation stone was laid with the objective of making advanced cancer care accessible to all sections of society. It was formally inaugurated in 2000 by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a 100-bed facility.
Today, the hospital has evolved into one of India’s leading comprehensive cancer centres, serving patients from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states.
According to hospital officials, the institution currently treats more than three lakh outpatients annually and nearly 90,000 inpatients every year. It performs over 8,000 cancer surgeries annually and has successfully completed 86 bone marrow transplants.
More than 65 per cent of patients come from economically weaker sections, receiving treatment at highly subsidised costs. The hospital also provides services under government healthcare schemes, including Aarogyasri and Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.
The institution is supported by a multidisciplinary team of more than 250 specialists, including surgical, medical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, nuclear medicine experts, medical physicists, technicians and research professionals.
Comprehensive treatment is offered for a wide range of cancers, including head and neck, breast, cervical, prostate and other organ-specific cancers. The hospital also operates a dedicated palliative care unit that focuses on pain management, emotional support and improving patients’ quality of life.
Beyond treatment, the Trust has played a major role in cancer awareness and early detection. Inspired by cancer survivor and former cricketer Yuvraj Singh’s message that cancer can be defeated through early diagnosis, the hospital launched mobile cancer screening programmes across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
So far, more than 2.7 lakh people have undergone cancer screening through these initiatives. The Trust said its awareness campaigns have earned three world records. As part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations, another 45,000 people, including 25,000 women, were screened free of cost.
Looking ahead, the Trust has set its sights on a much larger mission. Under the leadership of Chairman Nandamuri Balakrishna, it plans to establish a 1,000-bed integrated cancer hospital in Amaravati, significantly expanding access to advanced cancer treatment and research facilities in the region.
Reflecting on the institution’s journey, trustee Nara Brahmani said: “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. Through the Nandamuri Basavataraka Ramarao Cancer Foundation, we are creating new pathways of hope for lakhs of cancer patients and helping them reach those beautiful destinations. It is a blessing that three generations of our family have had the opportunity to be part of this mission of service.”
Twenty-five years after opening its doors, the Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital stands as a testament to how personal loss can be transformed into a lasting public service. What began as a mother’s final wish has become a beacon of hope for countless cancer patients and their families across India.