Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Head and Neck Cancer Fellowship Programme at Prince Aly Khan Hospital and Tata Memorial Hospital
Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world. Out of this, 57.5 per cent cancers occur in Asia, especially in India. The most common causes of these cancers are consumption of tobacco and alcohol. Smokeless tobacco, such as gutka or paan, is a major cause in India and Southeast Asia. These cancers usually affect breathing, swallowing and speech. The aim of the treatment is to cure the patient and restore these vital functions, besides heeding cosmetic concerns.
The support by the Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation has been primarily towards infrastructural development, equipments and fellowships at hospitals which treat these cancers.
The Fellowship programme was first instituted in the year 2003, under the guidance of Dr. Sultan Pradhan, at Prince Aly Khan Hospital (PAKH). The doctors under this fellowship were selected and recommended by the Hospital. Doctors with a specialisation in Medical and Surgical Oncology were offered fellowship under the Head and Neck Oncology Programme of PAKH, lead and developed by Dr. Pradhan.
In 2005, the Fellowship programme was introduced at the Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) under the guidance of Dr. Anil D’Cruz.
The fellowship program has enabled more than a 100 head and neck surgeons to be trained under the able guidance of senior oncology specialists in the field. The hospitals have been able to provide quality care to their patients through this pool of trained human resources.
Established in 1945, the Prince Aly Khan Hospital is a 164-bed acute care, multi-specialty facility offering quality health care.
The Tata Memorial Hospital is situated in Parel, Mumbai. It is a specialist cancer treatment and research centre, closely associated with the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC).