On June 1, CanSupport launched ‘Pritpal CanSupport Home Palliative Care Service’ in Jamshedpur supported by Michigan based Suri Seva Foundation.

This is a free of charge service for cancer patients in Jamshedpur that is going to make available medical, nursing and psychosocial support to them in their homes.

Cancer causes tremendous physical, emotional suffering not only to the patient but also their caregivers. In view of the rising incidence of cancer in India, this type of home care service for cancer patients is the need of the hour.

Harcharan Singh Suri, the founder of Suri Seva Foundation sent in a message to mark the inauguration and said, “Home based Palliative Care is the need of the hour and in CanSupport, the Foundation has a worthy and accomplished partner who has been in this field for over 25 years. It is our hope that, together, the collaboration has the capacity to make a difference in the lives of patients suffering from terminal ailments, who from now on, may not find it necessary to travel long distances to seek medical attention.”

Chanakya Chaudhary, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel was the chief guest at the inauguration that was held at Centre for Excellence (CFE). In his speech he said, “This launch is an exemplary event that brings together treating hospitals, palliative care and the civil society, each with its own significant role to play in solidarity with cancer patients in Jamshedpur. Their collective synergy will ensure that each patient is looked after in a holistic manner. We need to think more and more ways of adding people and organisations to this network.”

Other prominent people to attend the inauguration were: Dr Sujata Mitra from MTMH, Kulvin Suri of Suri Seva Foundation, Dr Ambika Rajvanshi, CEO CanSupport, Dr Reena Sharma, Director Medical, CanSupport and Savita Luka, Director – Nursing & PCFS Head – CanSupport.

Dr Sujata Mitra also appreciated the launch of Pritpal CanSupport Home Palliative Care Service in Jamshedpur and said “Tata Hospitals in Jamshedpur have been contemplating about a way to integrate continuum of care for cancer patients for whom cure may no longer be an option or illness is not responding to treatment. The Pritpal CanSupport Home Care Service is an answer to our quest and a valuable addition for continuing care across the cancer trajectory.”

To mark this momentous occasion, a recorded video message from Harmala Gupta, the Founder President of CanSupport was played out and in her message, she thanked Harcharan Singh Suri, the founder of Suri Seva Foundation and praised his foresight for initiating home based palliative care in collaboration with CanSupport. Harmala Gupta also thanked Kulvin Suri for extending his support to CanSupport with all the logistics involved in setting up this service in Jamshedpur besides thanking all the other prominent guests at the inauguration. She added that being a cancer survivor herself, she recognized the need for medical care and well being of the person who has cancer, which means psychosocial support as well as spiritual support and support that extends to the family members as well. Therefore, to have a palliative care team that includes a doctor, nurse and counsellor, is to have a winning team!” She expressed her confidence and said that she believed that the work was being initiating is going to serve as a trailblazer for home based palliative care in the entire Country.

Dr Ambika Rajvanshi, the CEO of CanSupport gave a brief introduction to CanSupport and said, “This is a momentous day for CanSupport in its 25th Milestone Year to be able to replicate its WHO recognized palliative care Model in the city of Iron and Steel in a long-standing partnership with Suri Seva Foundation. He congratulated the CanSupport team in Jamshedpur for having enrolled 36 patients into the home care program on the first day of the service.”

In Jamshedpur, to start with ‘Pritpal CanSupport Home Palliative Care Service’ is starting out with one home care team and a Public Relations Officer. In time PCHPCS plans to introduce more home care teams to expand their circle of care and compassion.

The inauguration ended with Dr Reena Sharma, Director Medical, CanSupport thanking all the honored guests, attendees and media present.