From the Director's Desk
Lady Meherbai Tata, a social worker, philanthropist and the original feminist icon of India, was born on 10th October 1879 and passed away on 18th June 1931 suffering from leukaemia. In 1932, Sir Dorabji Tata established the Lady Tata Memorial Trust in memory of his wife Meherbai. The Trust funds scientific research in blood-related diseases, with a special focus on leukaemia.
Honouring her life and legacy, Meherbai Tata Memorial Hospital was established by the Indian Cancer Society, Jamshedpur Branch (erstwhile Indian Cancer Society, Jamshedpur branch) with Sir Dorabji Tata Trust as the principal donor and inaugurated by Mr J.R.D. Tata on February 4th, 1975 to provide affordable and compassionate cancer care. For the next three decades MTMH remained the one and only cancer hospital in Jharkhand and catered to patients not only from the State but from other places as well. In 2017, Tata Trusts approved a project to upgrade Meherbai Tata Memorial Hospital (MTMH) from a 72- bedded cancer hospital to a comprehensive cancer care facility through investment in civil infrastructure and equipment. The foundation laying ceremony for this project was done on 2nd March 2018 by Mr Ratan Tata and the hospital was formally inaugurated by him on March 13th, 2019.With the infrastructure up gradation, the hospital recalibrated its plans to evolve as a Comprehensive Cancer Care hospital.
This evolution of the hospital took place under the leadership and nurturing by its past directors- Dr K.D Reddy, Dr B.R Master and Dr Sujata Mitra. Their unwavering commitment is what made MTMH shape into a place for compassionate affordable cancer care. So, it was with a mix of great pride tempered with humility and a profound sense of responsibility, that I assumed the role as its Director on 18th April, 2024.
I am proud to state that MTMH is today a beacon of hope and healing for those affected by cancer. Our dedicated team of healthcare professionals, with their unwavering commitment to excellence, stands ready to provide the highest quality medical care to our patients. From our skilled physicians and nurses to our support staff, everyone at Meherbai Tata Memorial Hospital is united in their dedication to improving the health and lives of those we serve.
State of the art screening and diagnostic facilities for cancer are available at MTMH- a 128 slice CT scan, 3 Tesla MRI scan, Mammography with tomosynthesis, PET CT scan and a NABL accredited laboratory with hematology, clinical biochemistry, histopathology, molecular biology& immuno-histochemistry testing facilities- to arrive at an early and correct diagnosis.
Once diagnosed all cases are discussed in the multidisciplinary Tumor Board and the treatment is planned as per the accepted guidelines. The dedicated team in Medical Oncology offers the latest in chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Radiation Oncology plans and delivers radiation using the latest LINAC True-beam machine and brachytherapy by Gamma med for precision targeted radiation delivery.The Pritpal Palliative Care Centre, funded by the Suri Seva Foundation, is the only one of its kind in the region. Terminal cancer patients are given an environment of solace so that they can leave the mortal world with self-dignity, free from excruciating pain and distress.
The addition of a modern operation theatre complex in this Golden Jubilee year (2025) for onco-surgical interventions fulfils the dream of making MTMH a centre of modern comprehensive cancer care - a centre offering diagnostic, curative and palliative services.
As we continue this journey, we need to strengthen and improve our services. In this direction MTMH applied for and got its entry level NABH certification in November 2024. We are committed to follow it up with an application for the final NABH certification in 2025.
As we embark on this journey together, I am deeply committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement. We will strive to harness the latest advancements in medical science and technology to ensure that our patients receive the best possible care, right here in Jamshedpur.
The increasing incidence of cancer and the late detection of treatable cancers in the community are a cause of concern. This is therefore an area that now needs focus. Community awareness and capacity building for early cancer screening in partnership with governmental and non-governmental agencies is an area that I would now like to work on. Developing a preventive cancer care department at MTMH to focus on the geographical areas we serve, remain the long-term goal for MTMH.
I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for Meherbai Tata Memorial Hospital, and I am confident that together, with the support of our dedicated team and the trust of our community, we will continue to uphold our legacy of excellence and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.
Thank you for entrusting us with your care. We are honoured to be your partners in health.
Dr. Koshy Varghese
Director, MTMH
