Addressing the Cancer Epidemic: Bridging Treatment Gaps and Enhancing Access through bcpbf – The Cancer Foundation
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Nearly one in six deaths worldwide is because of the disease. Among the most common cancers are breast, lung, colon and rectum, and prostate cancers. In India, 1.1 million new cases are reported every year. Out of this 7.84 million die (ICMR 2018). These numbers show the looming epidemic in India as well. While India is doing well in the field of cancer treatment, the harsh reality is that a number of patients have no access to world-class treatment. While there are several reasons behind this, the crux of the problem remains inadequate finances for developing multimodality treatment of acceptable standards and protocols. This motivated Dr Sameer Kaul to found bcpbf – The Cancer Foundation in 2014.
Empowering Equal Access and Awareness: The BCPBF (Breast Cancer Patients Benefit Foundation)
The BCPBF (Breast Cancer Patients Benefit Foundation) is an equal opportunity support organization which, in the interim, comprises of well-known medical professionals, financial experts, entrepreneurs, gutsy survivors and philanthropic members of the community. Its sole purpose is to financially benefit those who cannot afford the treatment and to increase knowledge among those unaware of the disease, by reaching out to them through its programmes like ‘Knowledge at your doorstep’ awareness camps, public lectures, seminars, corporate health checks and other such events. The foundation also aims to motivate the affluent strata of society to contribute towards the noble cause at fundraising events.
Objective
- To subsidize the mammoth cost of treatment of Cancer of needy and poor patients and raise funds for the same.
- To help early detection of cancer and to raise funds for the said purpose.
- To set up detection centers, hospitals, nuclear science and pathological labs and radiation/ chemotherapy centers in rural and urban areas for treatment of cancer patients and raise funds for the same.
- To convince pharmaceutical companies to provide drugs for cancer treatment at concession rate/free of charge for poor and needy patients.
Work Done
Central Drug Repository: The BCPBF’s most vital program is ‘CENTRAL DRUG REPOSITORY’, an honest attempt at providing subsidized / free lifesaving cancer drugs to “Below Poverty Line” patients, we collect these medicines With the help of well-meaning individuals, corporate and pharmaceutical companies.
Patients Benefitted – 256+
Distributed Drugs Worth – Rs 2.38 crores
Patients Assistance Program: These funds are being used to provide timely subsidized / free treatment to ill affording cancer patients cutting
across red tape, caste, color and creed. So far 660 patients have received aid worth Rs. 2.7 Crore.
Patients Benefitted – 660+
Funds used – Rs 2.7 crores
Eradicate Cancer: Free cancer detection and awareness checkups were organized at various organisations. So far 65 camps have been organised in 20 cities, 11 states and three countries. A total of 21,500 preventive checkups have been done.
Training, Accreditation & Workshops: Our ‘Fellowships and Trainings Program’ endeavors to train
and certify deserving surgeons and physicians.
Continuing Medical Education (CME): Through this program, the foundation promotes interaction between primary physicians, nurses, technicians and cancer specialists. Various CMEs (Continuing Medical Educational) including a series of program entitled Cancer Scenarios 2006, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19′ have been conducted for primary physicians and health providers.
Fundraisers: The foundation also aims at motivating the higher strata of society to contribute towards the noble cause by conducting fundraising events. ‘bcpbf – THE CANCER FOUNDATION’ has held the following, very well-attended fundraisers successfully – ‘Dil Ki Awaz’, ‘Ehsaas’ and others.
