Free cancer treatment for poor at new hospital

BANGALORE: Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham Charitable Trust, in collaboration with Shri Shankara Cancer Foundation, has taken up a health initiative to spread awareness of cancer among people, especially in rural areas. Cancer is said to be the largest killer disease in India.
The new Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SSCHRC) will come up by next year and it will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities."The hospital will be equipped with 200 beds, where 100 would be reserved for general wards, and 21 would be provided for free to the needy. This is the first time in India when treatment would be provided free of charge for the poor," said Dr B S Srinath, managing trustee, SSCHRC.
This hospital will be located at Chamarajpet on an expansive plot of Sharada Peetham. Dr Srinath added that rural outreach and awareness programmes would be central to the hospital's activities.
In his effort to be part of this noble cause, internationally-acclaimed artiste L Subramaniam will give a violin concert, 'Sur Sanjeevani', at Gnana Jyothi auditorium, Central College campus, on September 4 from 6.30 pm for free. "Shankara hospital is a much-needed medical facility, and I am happy to play for the cause," Subramaniam said. Dr N Prabhu Dev, vice-chancellor of Bangalore University has also associated himself with the cause of combating cancer.