Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre

In the year 1992, the idea of establishing a dedicated cancer hospital in Rajasthan was put forward in an August gathering of enlightened citizens. The meeting that was held in the presence of Late Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the then Chief Minister of Rajasthan & Late Shri Vidya Vinod Kala. It concluded with approval on the proposal to establish a cancer hospital. The state government allotted 22166 sq. yd. of land for constructing the hospital. With tremendous efforts and benevolent intention, the hospital finally came into existence in 1997. It was started as a 50-bed hospital and has grown multi-fold to 200 beds. It is dedicated to patients fighting cancer. The hospital is one of the few recognized private hospitals and diagnostic centres in India.[1]

The hospital has been flourishing under the chairmanship of Shri Navrattan Kothari, who has devoted his life to the service of the poor.[2] He is actively involved in upgrading the services of the hospital and ensuring free treatment to weaker sections of society. Smt. Anila Kothari and Shri. Vimal Chand Surana walked step by step with Shri. Navarattan Kothari to make this hospital technically strong and economically patient friendly.

• 1992: Proposal to establish a cancer hospital in the pink city, Jaipur followed by the allotment of 22166 sq. Yd. land for constriction for the hospital.
• 1996: Commencement of hospital development.
• 1997: Establishment of the hospital under the aegis of BMCHRC Trust (Managed by K. G. Kothari Memorial trust).
• 1998: Establishment of women's wing of cancer care to extend emotional, economical & social support to cancer patients & their attendants.
• 2010: Establishment of Dreamz foundation for treating cancer-affected patients. The foundation is treating many cancer affected children since then.[3]
• 1999-2014: Technical advances, including the inauguration of a Palliative Care Ward, Facility of Radioiodine Therapy, and Inauguration of 200 bed IPD Block. In the year 2012, the then chief minister Ashok Gehlot inaugurated a Positron emission tomography (PET) diagnostic machine.[4]
• 2015: NABH Accreditation was awarded. An organ based treatment facility was introduced.[5]
• 2017: Establishment of AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) Ward, Hospice Ward, Started Laser Surgery & Introduce Gallium - 68 generator.
• 2018-19: Establishment of the Neuro Ortho OT (Operating Theater) and installed a Linear Accelerator (Varian Truebeam Stx / Halcyon LA)

BMCHRC offers a number of services to fulfil its aims of providing comprehensive cancer care to the patients. The services offered at the institute include Surgical Oncology, Neuro Onco Surgery, Ortho Oncology, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, haematology-oncology, Gynecologic Oncology, and anesthesiology.

In addition to the above, the hospital provides numerous clinical services to the patients coming from different walks of life. This includes palliative care, psycho-oncology, ostomy clinic, dietary services, physiotherapy, dental care, and preventive oncology.

In the year 2016, BMCHRC provided free blood cancer treatment to 38 children under its flagship welfare programme. The children were suffering from different conditions which included Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Low Risk (ALL), Hodgkin Lymphoma (HD) and Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Low Risk (APML).[6]

The hospital has conducted several surgeries and has been a pioneer in serve to society, especially in the state of Rajasthan.[7] During the financial year 2014–2015, the hospital spent 6.46 crore for free treatment to people under the Below Poverty Line (BPL). In the year 2017, the BMCHRC team successfully performed a unique organ reconstruction surgery to remove oral cancer in a 42-year-old patient using innovative technology which brought the surgery time down to 5 hours from usual 8 to 10 hours.[8]

The institute has won many awards over the years in different categories by different organisations, bodies, and institutions.

• 2013, 2014, 2015: Best Super Specialty Hospital- Oncology in Rajasthan (Organised by Innate Healthcare, Medical Tourism company)
• 2016: Best Healthcare Trust Provider Award [9]
• 2018: State Level Productivity Awards

The BMCHRC uses state of the art technology and medical equipment, including various diagnostic, treatment, aftercare, and research facilities available at the hospital.

Diagnosis forms a major part of the hospital's outpatient department, with the hospital providing the latest technology in Radio Diagnosis, Pathology, and Nuclear Medicine, in addition to blood transfusion and microbiology. Services provided by BMCHRC in diagnosis are the first of their kind in the state of Rajasthan such as Two Linear Accelerators (First in Rajasthan, with Rapid Arc, IGRT, IMRT and 3D CRT, SRS, SRT technology), PET CT 16 SLICE (First in Rajasthan), Radio Iodine Therapy (First & Only in Rajasthan reserved for Thyroid Cancer Patients, Samarium, Therapy & gamma camera).

In addition to these, the hospital has 6 integrated modular operation theatres, complete with all latest modalities in cancer surgery like Laser Cancer Surgery and Micro Laryngeal Surgery. In addition to these, the hospital also has a special 14 bedded Surgical ICU, a 60 bedded daycare ward for chemotherapy patients, and a dedicated Pain And Palliative Care Department.[10]

BMCHRC is also well known for providing assistance and clinical trial grounds to researchers from around the globe.[11] A testimony to this is the treatment of bone cancer using hot dog technique, which is considered to be a boon for treating bone cancer in patients.[12]

BMCHRC has been actively involved in the efforts of identifying and treating cancer in the state of Rajasthan. In order to increase the spread of their outreach, BMCHRC has successfully implemented several great initiatives in rural and far reaches of the state.[13]

In the year 2005, BMCHRC started BMCHRC college of Nursing where more than 1000 students have received formal nursing education so far. BMCHRC also provides palliative care training to improve the standards of medical care in the country. To those interested in carving out a career in the field of palliative care, BMCHRC provides them with specialised courses that are conducted by The Indian Association of Palliative Care.[15]