February 4 is World Cancer Day
Jamshedpur, Feb 3: MTMH, a cancer hospital at Jamshedpur established in 1975 has been providing comprehensive cancer care to patients of this region.
Named after Lady Meherbai Tata, wife of Sir Dorabji Jamshedji Tata the hospital is built on a plot of land gifted by Tata Steel near Tata Main Hospital. Inaugurated by JRD Tata, then Chairman, Tata Sons on February 4, 1975, the hospital was built at a sum of Rs 10 lakhs, including a donation of Rs 3 lakhs from the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and disbursements by several institutions and individuals. Sir Dorabji Tata had commissioned the beautiful 120-year-old terracotta bust placed at the entrance of the hospital, when his wife was 21 years old. Jamshed Bhabha, then Director, Tata Sons had gifted the bust to MTMH.
Besides serving the people of Jharkhand, it extends its services to Government and Public Sector undertakings such as, SAIL, CCL, NML, Railways etc.
Over the years, the rising number of cancer patients and advancement in cancer care threw up the need for expansion and up-gradation of the hospital.
In 2017, Tata Trusts approved a project to upgrade MTMH from a 72- bedded cancer hospital to a comprehensive 128-bedded cancer care facility.
The foundation laying ceremony for this project was done on 2nd March 2018 by Ratan Tata.
Over a period of one year, a new extension building has come up in the TMH campus, connected to MTMH by a skybridge. The two buildings together house comprehensive cancer care facility, including an OPD, Medical Oncology and Radiotherapy wards, Day Care chemotherapy ward and Pritpal Palliative Care Centre (funded by Suri Foundation).
The old wards have been renovated and hospital furniture replaced by new, advanced versions. Hospital equipment has been procured to equip wards with the latest technology. The number of beds has increased from 72 to 128. There is a 40- bedded day care ward that will serve the long- standing patient need of short hospital stay.
In addition, a state of the art True Beam radiotherapy machine has considerably enhanced the ability of the centre to treat patients with the most advanced and precise radiation therapy.
A PET-CT machine has been installed. This is the only one in Jharkhand and is an important diagnostic arm which allows early cancer detection and recurrence. The brachytherapy equipment, used to deliver intra-cavitary radiation also has been replaced.
MTMH, together with TMH provides comprehensive cancer care to patients in the state.