Opening doors to cancer care in Patna
Dr Jitendra Kumar Singh, director of the Mahavir Cancer Sansthan, Patna, who runs the second biggest cancer hospital of the country after the Tata Memorial in Mumbai, was awarded the Padma Shri this year. It's not just the enormous number of patients who descend on the hospital for its moderately priced specialized treatment that makes it unique but its package of services which include ‘early detection and prevention,' research on pesticides and other carcinogenic substances and academic specialization on all aspects of cancer treatment.
As the patient load kept increasing, Dr Singh realized that treatment alone was not enough. Early detection was important for cancer cure. A community oncology department was opened and since the word cancer frightens people, on payment of a small fee of Rs 50 a health check up is done. Simultaneously, with the support of actors like Hema Malini, Shabana Azmi and Shatrugan Sinha a campaign was mounted on the carcinogenic impact of smoking and tobacco chewing. Half the 10 lakh new cancer patients are tobacco addicts, says Dr Singh.
Research on mice has shown the carcinogenic impact of DDT, insecticides and pesticides. Simultaneously, herbal treatment with turmeric and aswaganda has reduced the size of the tumours, says Dr Singh.
It's been a long and satisfying journey for Mr Singh, born and educated in Majhauni village of Banka District. A lot of people in his family were village level doctors and they inspired him to study medicine, but right from the beginning he was keen to work in a big institution where his work would have an impact.
Having done his MBBS from the Prince of Wales Medical College, Patna, in 1975 and MD in radiotherapy in 1980, he did his advance training in cancer in the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. Returning to Patna, he worked at the radium institute of the Patna Medical College and Hospital as a senior faculty member. He joined as director of the Mahavir Cancer Sanstha in 2001, three years after it was inaugurated.
Acharya Kishore Kunal, an IPS officer and secretary of the Mahavir Mandir Trust, who had an aunt with cancer was keen on a cancer hospital and provided a part of the temple land for it. Starting with 100 beds and about a dozen doctors, today the six-storied hospital has 450 beds, 125 doctors, 18 radiologists and a staff of 700. Every year it receives 26,500 new patients and has close to 3-lakh patients under treatment. Twelve organizations like the railways, different banks and the Army support the Sanstha financially and send their patients. Doctors from Delhi, Mumbai and other cities come to the hospital for cancer specialization. “When I moved out of Tata Memorial, Dr PB Desai had advised I set up a cancer hospital in Patna so that he does not have to see Bihari cancer patients in Mumbai. That dream is nearing fruition now,” says Dr Singh.
Keywords: cancer care, Patna, Mahavir Cancer Sansthan,
Mahavir Cancer Sansthan has made many rapid strides in cancer control and treatment, thanks to Dr. Jitendra Singh's enthusiasm and vision. Recently, hyperthermia was introduced as a new form of cancer treatment, primarily as an adjutant or added treatment to radiation. This was done with collaboration with the California State University in U.S., and the results of the first clinical trial were very encouraging, and hopefully, this will be a standard form of treatment in the future.
The report “A meaningful journey” by Usha Rai on Dr. J.K. Singh contains many mistakes of omissions and commissions. The imputation of motive that Kishore Kunal granted a part of the temple land for establishment of the Cancer Hospital because his aunt had suffered from cancer is defamatory in nature. His aunt died long before the hospital became functional. The Cancer Hospital is established on the land of Mahavir Mandir by Mahavir (Hanuman) Mandir Trust. The present Director joined the Cancer Hospital at a later stage. Dr. S. C. Basu, a former senior doctor of All India Medical Institute of Medical Science was the founding Director of The Cancer Hospital. The hospital has a number of doctors and other employees and the Director is one of them. We have congratulated him on getting Padmashri Award. But it does not obliterate the fact Mahavir Cancer Sansthan is run by Mahavir Mandir Trust and not by any individual.
Mahavir Cancer Sansthan runs through its own resources and grant from the Mahavir Mandir Trust which was instrumental in establishing this hospital when there was even radiation facility in any of the hospitals including Patna Medical Collage Hospital. It gives handsome grants to the patients suffering from cancer particularly up to the age of 18 years. Some of organizations do send some of their cancer patients but the payments are not prompt.
Mere visit and lecture by a few filmy personalities does not amount to an intense awakening against the cancer. For this a sustained campaign is required and Cancer Hospital is still lacking in this regard. Hema Malini has never visited Cancer Hospital or campaigned on its behalf. Usha Rai should have checked these facts before reporting.
Having said so, it is a fact that the Sansthan is attracting the second largest cancer patients in the country. But it is the outcome of a good team of doctors and other paramedical staff-members.
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