What We Do
CanSupport is a team of Palliative Care experts committed to maximising quality of life with cancer in a meaningful and compassionate manner, whilst fully respecting the dignity of the individual.
We follow a patient-centered philosophy where patient preferences and goals are central to providing care.
We run the largest home based palliative care program in the country that has received national and international recognition as well as the prestigious Public Health Champion Award by the World Health Organization.
Journey So Far
1996
Harmala Gupta founded CanSupport and registered it as a society on 08/11/96.
1997
A 6 month pilot Home Care project launched with Dr. BR Ambedkdar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (IRCH), AIIMS.
1998
1999
Cancer Helpline started by volunteers.
2000
1st Remembrance Day held to honor the memory of the departed patients.
2001
2002
Day Care program launched.
2003
Peer Support Group started with “drop-in” meetings.
2005
Recognised as Regd. Medical Institution and awarded oral morphine licence, becoming one of only 3 organisations in Delhi to have such a licence.
2006
- 1st National Capital Region Palliative Care Centre in Gurugram.
- Developed guidelines for Home-Based Palliative Care in India based on its model of care on invitation of World Health Organisation (WHO).
- Plan to convert CanSupport from a volunteer led organisation to a professionally managed one finalised.
2007
VISION 2012 workshop held with stakeholders and a 5-year strategy plan put in place.
2008
- 1st Walk for Life- Stride Against Cancer event held to mark World Cancer Day.
- 1st Certificate Course in Palliative and End-of-life Care Counselling initiated.
- Community Outreach Program established.
2010
Home Care Program expanded to cover NCR including Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida.
2011
- Rehabilitation Program launched for destitute patients and caregivers.
- Certificate Courses in Palliative Medicine and Palliative Nursing launched.
2012
CanSupport became the largest stand-alone Home-Based Palliative Care program in India.
2013
- Third Party Resource Facilitation program established.
- 1st Outpatient Clinic established in East Delhi.
2014
Footprint extended into Patiala, Punjab with the collaborative project with the state government.
2016
Internal Ethics Committee established.
2017
- World Health Organisation acknowledged CanSupport with its Public Heath Champion Award.
- 1st Home Care Team in Punjab- Amritsar, Punjab.
2018
Invited to be a part of the National Task Force set up by the GOI to make Palliative Care part of Public Health Delivery.
2019
Home Care services expanded to 4 states of India – Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and UP.
2020
- Received oral morphine licences for Amritsar and Bathinda, Punjab.
- Cloud based app put in place to capture and monitor patient care.
- Palliative Care Advisory Committee established.
2021
2022
Home Care services introduced in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
2023
- A new integrated model of palliative care delivery introduced in Delhi
- A six-month pilot project undertaken in Gurugram, Haryana along with Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Haryana, confirming the adaptability and efficacy of CanSupport’s home-based palliative care model into the public health care system.
2024
Home Care services introduced in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Our
Vision
A caring and supportive society where people with cancer and their families live with dignity, hope and comfort.
Our
Mission
To enable people with advanced cancer and their families to make informed choices and decisions and to receive appropriate physical, emotional, social and spiritual support.
Our
Values
The members of CanSupport:
- Aim for the highest professional and ethical standards of care,
- Respect and value the knowledge, skills & contributions of all in the organisation,
- Respect the rights, choices & confidentiality of patients and their families,
- Maintain transparency in interactions with patients, donors & well-wishers, and
- Strive to be responsible stewards of resources.
Our Founder
Harmala Gupta
Harmala Gupta is a cancer survivor and social activist who has pioneered cancer support services in India. After her encounter with cancer, she founded the first cancer support group in India, ‘Cancer Sahyog’ in 1990.
Meet Our Team
Get to know the passionate individuals driving our mission forward.
Harmala Gupta
She was a board member of the International Association of Hospice & Palliative Care (IAHPC) based in the USA and has been on the Executive Committee of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC). She is presently a fellow of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) in Geneva as well.
Dr. Bhawna Sirohi
Vedanta Medical Research Foundation - BALCO Medical Centre, Nava Raipur
Dr. Bhawna Sirohi began her oncology training at Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, in 1994, completing it at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, UK. She has published 200+ papers & edited 3 books on cancer. She is on the international editorial board of Lancet Oncology, ecancer. She serves on the scientific advisory committee of Indian Council of Medical Research. Dr. Bhawna was honored by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in recognition of her dedicated healthcare services in the state. She sits on the ASCO committee for health equity and outcomes; & climate change and cancer.
Dr. Ambika Rajvanshi
Dr. Ravinder Mohan
Kiran Gera
NS Anand
Our Impact
(2023-2024)
HOME BASED PALLIATIVE CARE
5,178
Patients served
16,000
Family caregivers served
41,180
Home visits
2,388
Concurrent patients
2,025
Bereavement visits made
29,750
consultations over phone/video calls outside working hours
1,760
Destitute patients / rehabilitated
HOSPITAL OUTREACH & THIRD PARTY RESOURCE FACILITATION
15,907
Patients helped across 40 hospitals
Rs 395 lakh
Mobilised from Central and State Government Schemes
Rs. 143 lakh
in-kind resources mobilised
DAY CARE
140
Sessions
3,245
Patients attended
2,290
Attending caregivers
TELEPHONE HELPLINE
10,853
Calls serviced
2,269
Calls received by Palliative Telemedicine Unit
OUTPATIENT PAIN AND PALLIATIVE CARE CLINICS
5,955
New patients enrolled
19,236
Patient Visits
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND AWARENESS
321
ASHA workers
2,960
Anganwadi workers
624
Self Help Group women
Trained as community trainers around community awareness and early cancer detection
41
Cancer awareness sessions and screening camps
Our Reach
Providing Free of Charge Palliative Care Programs across 6 States in India
Delhi
All 11 Districts
- 13 Home Care Teams
- 4 Outpatient Clinics
- 1 Mobile Clinic
- 2 Day Care Centres
Haryana
6 Districts
- Gurugram
- Faridabad
- Rohtak
- Sonipat
- Jind
- Jhajjar
- 8 Home Care Teams
Punjab
4 Districts
- Amritsar
- Bathinda
- Mansa
- Patiala
- 6 Home Care Teams
- 2 Outpatient Clinics
Uttar Pradesh
3 Districts
- Noida
- Ghaziabad
- Meerut
- 5 Home Care Teams
Jharkhand
1 District
- Jamshedpur
- 1 Home Care Team
- 1 Outpatient Clinic
Himanchal Pradesh
1 District
- Shimla
- 1 Home Care Team
Financial Information
Transparency and Accountability. Explore our FCRA License, Donation Details, Audited Financials, and Annual Reports to understand how your contributions make an impact.
Legal Profile
| Legal Status | Registered Society (Societies Registration Act of 1860) Registration Number S-30499 Date 08.11.1996 |
| Income Tax Registration U/s 12-A | DIT (E) 96-97/466/96/516 Date 13.02.1997, Revalidated on 28.05.2021 |
| Income Tax Exemption U/s 80-G (50% Tax Exemption to Donor) | DIT (E) 2008-09/C-466/540 Date 04.06.2008, Revalidated on 28.05.2021 |
| FCRA Registration | 231660040 Date 14.03.2000, Renewed on 01.04.2022 |
| MCA (CSR) Registration | CSR00000673 Issued on 06.04.202 |
| Permanent Account Number | AAATC3017F |
| TAN Number | DELC07112A |
| Registered Office | 60/2D, Indian Oil Bhawan Compound, Yusuf Sarai, New Delhi-110016 Ph: 011-41010537, 41010538 |
| Statutory Auditors | S. Sahoo and Co 14, Palam Marg, Vasant Vihar, Delhi 110057 |
| Non - FCRA Bankers | Kotak Mahindra Bank Plot No.5, Green Park, Main Market New Delhi 110016 HDFC Bank LTD. D-1 Shopping Centre #2, Vasant Vihar New Delhi 110057 Indian Overseas Bank Sector 12, R.K Puram New Delhi 110022 |
| FCRA Bankers | State Bank of India New Delhi Main Branch, 11 Parliament Street New Delhi 110001 Standard Chartered Bank M Block Market, Building No - 39 Greater Kailash Part 2 New Delhi 110048 |
Patient Care Stories
Inspiring stories from our patients and their families about how CanSupport has made a difference in their lives.
Accreditations / Memberships
Proudly accredited and recognized by leading global organizations, reinforcing our commitment to excellence in cancer care and support.
Since 2012, we have been accredited by the Credibility Alliance under desirable norms. This accreditation ensures credibility, transparency and accountability among stakeholders.
CAF validation ensures that all funds sent to the organization will be used charitably, and it allows donors to mitigate the risk of fraud, money laundering, and other criminal activities.
In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) honoured us with their Public Health Champion award for sustainable contribution to public health.
CanSupport is an institutional member of IAHPC (International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care), which is a global platform working to optimize the practice of palliative care.
Awards and Recognitions
CanSupport and its Founder have received many awards, a few prominent ones being:
| Year | Name of Award | Instituted by | Reason for Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lifetime Achievement Award for Services Rendered Towards Palliative Care | National Association of Palliative Care for Aayush & Integrative Medicine | |
| 2023 | The Change Maker of the Year Award | The Brand Story | Paving the way for a more compassionate and supportive environment for cancer patients in India |
| 2023 | Ushalakshmi Oration & Award | ABSICON (Association of Breast Surgeons in India) | Journey of Cancer survivorship. She was felicitated for her contribution in the field of advocacy, supportive care and awareness on Palliative care |
| 2020 | ICUNR International Women's Day Award | Indian Council for UN Relations | Outstanding Women Achiever's award for Founder |
| 2019 | Healthcare Excellence Award | FICCI | Healthcare Humanitarian award for Founder |
| 2017 | WHO Public Health Champion Award | World Health Organisation | Filling a critical gap in Public Health |
| 2016 | Rashtriya Swayamsiddh Award | Jindal Steel and Power Limited | Inspirational Model for the country to emulate |
| 2014 | Spirit of Shanti Award | Brahmakumaris | Demonstrating commitment to serving humanity with extraordinary generosity |
| 2014 | Governor General's Medallion | Governor General of Canada | For Harmala Gupta for her pioneering contribution to palliative care in India |
| 2011 | Indian NGO Award: Best NGO in Northern India in Medium Budget Category | Resource Alliance and Rockefeller Foundation | Best practices, transparency and accountability |
| 2009 | Silver Phoenix Award | Indian Institute of Planning & Management | For Harmala Gupta for the pioneering Home Care Program |
| 2008 | Karamveer Puraskar | Indian Confederation of NGOs | National award for Social Justice & Citizen Action |
| 2006 | CanSupport develops National Guidelines for Home Based Palliative Care Services | The World Health Organisation, in recognition of its pioneering home care model having sufficient universal applicability and replicability invited CanSupport to develop the National Guidelines for Home Based Palliative Care Services under the Government of India – WHO Collaborative Program | |
| 2005 | Social Welfare Award (by then Hon'ble President of India Abdul Kalam Azad) | PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry | Outstanding contribution to social work |
Our Inspiration
FAQs
Find answers to your questions and get the information you need.
How can CanSupport help me or my loved one with cancer?
CanSupport provides comprehensive palliative care services, including home-based care, outpatient clinics, day care services, counseling, and support groups. Our aim is to improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their families by managing symptoms, providing emotional support, and offering guidance throughout their journey.
What services does CanSupport offer to cancer patients and their families?
We offer a range of services, including home-based palliative care, outpatient clinics, day care services, counseling, support groups, educational programs, and training for caregivers and healthcare professionals. Our services are designed to address the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of our patients and their families.
How can I become a volunteer with CanSupport?
To become a volunteer, you can apply through our website or contact us directly. We provide comprehensive training to equip our volunteers with the skills needed to support our patients and their families. Volunteering with CanSupport is a rewarding experience that allows you to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by cancer.
What training do CanSupport volunteers receive?
Our volunteers undergo extensive training that covers various aspects of palliative care, including communication skills, symptom management, emotional support, and understanding the needs of cancer patients and their families. The training ensures that our volunteers are well-prepared to provide compassionate and effective care.
How can I donate to CanSupport and support their mission?
You can donate to CanSupport through our website by clicking on the “Donate Now” button. We accept various forms of donations, including one-time gifts, monthly contributions, and corporate partnerships. Your generous donations help us continue providing essential services to cancer patients and their families.
What is the impact of my donation to CanSupport?
Your donation directly supports our palliative care programs and services. It helps us provide medical care, emotional support, counseling, and other essential services to cancer patients and their families. Every contribution makes a significant difference in the lives of those we serve.
Can I visit CanSupport's facilities to learn more about their services?
Yes, you are welcome to visit our facilities to learn more about our services and meet our dedicated team. Please contact us to schedule a visit, and we will be happy to provide a tour and answer any questions you may have.
How can I stay updated with CanSupport's news and events?
You can stay updated with our latest news and events by subscribing to our newsletter, following us on social media, and regularly visiting our website. We share updates about our programs, events, and success stories to keep our community informed and engaged.
What are the eligibility criteria for CanSupport's services?
Our services are available to cancer patients and their families who require palliative care and support. To determine eligibility, we assess each patient’s medical condition, needs, and circumstances. Please contact us for more information and to discuss your specific situation.
How can I share my story with CanSupport to inspire others?
We encourage patients, families, and supporters to share their stories with us. Your experiences can inspire and provide hope to others facing similar challenges. You can share your story through our website, social media platforms, or by contacting us directly. We value and appreciate your willingness to share your journey with our community.
What causes cancer?
Cancer can be caused by a combination of genetic factors, environmental exposures (such as tobacco smoke, radiation, and certain chemicals), and lifestyle choices (like diet and physical activity).
Is cancer hereditary?
Some types of cancer can be hereditary. If there is a family history of cancer, it is essential to talk to a healthcare provider about potential risks and genetic testing.
Can cancer be prevented?
While not all cancers can be prevented, certain lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, avoiding tobacco, and limiting alcohol consumption can reduce the risk.
What are the common symptoms of cancer?
Symptoms can vary widely depending on the type of cancer but may include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, lumps or swelling, persistent pain, or changes in bowel or bladder habits.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is specialized medical care that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illnesses like cancer. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family.
How is palliative care different from hospice care?
While both provide comfort and support, palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and alongside curative treatments. Hospice care is typically reserved for patients nearing the end of life who are no longer seeking curative treatments.
When should palliative care start?
Palliative care can start at any point during a serious illness, even as soon as a diagnosis is made. Early integration of palliative care can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Who provides palliative care?
A multidisciplinary team including doctors, nurses, social workers, and other specialists provide palliative care. This team works together to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient.