Working towards a responsive healthcare system based on the needs of patients, families and communities
Contributing to and enhancing community health is a critical priority for the Company. Our focus is to provide targeted care to local communities. We focus on supporting communities with equitable access to healthcare services, with particular emphasis on palliative care and support for other medical interventions.
bet9¹ÙÍø's manufacturing units, depots and other project sites across geographies actively participate in these initiatives to address the healthcare needs of vulnerable communities in their vicinity, with special emphasis on children, women and the elderly.
Palliative care recognises that the challenges faced by a person with a serious illness are not just confined to the disease alone. It acknowledges that there is pain and other symptoms related to the physical, psychological and social needs of both, the patients and their families. The goal of palliative care is to provide the best possible quality of life at every stage of all serious illnesses.
Established in 1997, the bet9¹ÙÍø Palliative Care & Training Centre (CPC) in Pune supports cancer patients and their families with holistic care plans, homecare services and outpatient services at multiple hospitals. CPC enhances the well-being of patients and caregivers by addressing pain, symptoms, emotional and spiritual concerns. In FY 2023-24, our momentum for quality of care was further enhanced by including training and exposure visits for staff, exploring opportunities for technology interface and strengthening patient feedback systems for enhanced quality of care.
We expanded family support through caregiver training and counselling. For patients, specialised care through physiotherapists, nutritionists and pain specialists was also strengthened by engaging with leading palliative care practitioners across the country.
During FY 2023-24, CPC services included:
Our work at the CPC has inspired us to support quality palliative care services across the country. We continue to partner with governmental, nongovernmental and community-based organisations to provide direct palliative care services to patients and increase awareness about palliative care.
Note: The map used above, serves solely as a general illustration and should not be interpreted as indicative of political boundaries and not to be used for reference purposes.
50,000+ patients served across 27 cities through 30 palliative care organisations that provided palliative care services including in–patient, outpatient and home–based care.
During FY 2023-24, we partnered with Tata Memorial Centres (TMCs) unit hospitals in Sangrur and Muzaffarpur to expand palliative care services. These hospital teams care for around 50 new patients every month. We also supported other TMCs unit hospitals in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Guwahati, Vishakhapatnam and Varanasi.
We continued our support for the KEVAT program initiated by Dr R A Badwe, former TMC Director, aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery. The program involves training a task force of ‘KEVATS’ to assist cancer patients throughout their journey, from diagnosis, treatment and cure, providing personalised support with registration, financial assistance, accommodation, medication, appointment tracking and more. Feedback indicates that KEVAT assistants reduce patient anxiety, ease clinician and nurse workloads and improve treatment adherence, thereby contributing towards improved patient care and survival.
We believe palliative care should be accessible to patients of all ages and for all serious illnesses that compromise quality of life such as heart disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
During FY 2023-24:
We have continued our support for palliative care for serious illnesses by supporting the extension of services at South Goa District Hospital. We also assisted Pallium India in establishing a daily palliative care OPD at Trivandrum Medical College, benefiting over 3,000 patients.
At St Johns Medical College, Bengaluru, the palliative care team that was set up with the support of bet9¹ÙÍø Foundation in 2021, expanded its services beyond oncology. It served 1,600+ patients referred from haematology, pulmonology, pediatric and adult nephrology and neurology departments.
We supported Sukoon Nilaya (King George V Memorial Trust), Mumbai to expand from 16 beds to 25 beds to accommodate patients with any serious illness. With our support, Sukoon Nilaya supported 500+ patients with serious illnesses.
Children are often excluded from palliative care services, hence our special focus is on creating inclusion through pediatric palliative care services. These services focus on caregivers and families keeping them at the centre of decision-making towards child treatment and care and thereby improving treatment adherence.
In FY 2023-24, we started and strengthened pediatric palliative care initiatives at:
Comprehensive Thalassemia and Bone Marrow Transplant Care Centre, Borivali, Mumbai
In collaboration with Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, we extended pediatric palliative care to the Comprehensive Thalassemia and Bone Marrow Transplant Care Centre in Borivali. The palliative care team supports families emotionally, socially, and financially, facilitating treatment continuity and preparing eligible patients for bone marrow transplants. This initiative complements our support for units at B.Y.L Nair Charitable Hospital, King Edward Memorial Charitable Hospital (KEM) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Mumbai.
Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, Mumbai
We strengthened the homecare palliative care unit at this hospital with the addition of a new counsellor and physician to ensure that more children in Mumbai can receive palliative care support. Through this project, 1,000+ pediatric patients received palliative care services.
CanKids KidsCan, Indore and Shimla
We expanded our support to CanKids KidsCan in Indore and Shimla, alongside ongoing assistance in Mumbai. The organisation collaborates with government and charitable hospitals to ensure holistic care for children during cancer treatment. Through this initiative, we have provided essential support to over 1,000 pediatric patients.
Pain Relief and Palliative Care Society (PRPCS), Hyderabad
We continue to support a pediatric homecare team at PRPCS, beyond the existing partnership with them which began in 2021. The new homecare team is ensuring children are visited on the weekends and after working hours, as required. Through this project, 1,300+ pediatric patients received palliative care support.
Golden Butterflies, Chennai
We facilitated the team's efforts to establish referral linkages in charitable hospitals, enabling more children undergoing cancer treatment to access homecare services alongside their outpatient care. Through this initiative, 550+ pediatric patients received homecare services.
Novi Survat, Goa
We continued to provide our support to Novi Survat to build a stronger network with homecare services in North Goa. With our support at South Goa District Hospital the team also strengthened services for children with cancer and other illnesses admitted to the pediatric ward and oncology unit at Goa Medical College. Through this initiative, 330+ pediatric patients were supported.
bet9¹ÙÍø Foundation extends its support to pulmonary rehabilitation centres situated in public and charitable hospitals, aiming to alleviate breathing difficulties, enhance endurance and alleviate breathlessness among patients suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses. This support includes cardiopulmonary physiotherapy and nutritional and psychosocial services to the patients.
Launched in 2021, Saath-Saath is a national toll-free helpline run by trained palliative care volunteers, who understand the needs of patients and their loved ones without judgement, and link them to the nearest palliative care provider. Today, 30+ organisations are a part of this network.
We are expanding the Saath-Saath helpline network so that patients and their families can have immediate access to the reassurance and resources they need. The helpline eases burdens and instils hope in the hearts of those it serves.
4,000+ calls were received during FY 2023-24 and referred to palliative care services across India for all serious illnesses including cancer, Thalassemia, lung disorders and more.
1,400+ patients/caregivers were supported through the helpline.
bet9¹ÙÍø Foundation supports the Public System Partnership project of SNEHA which promotes proactive health-seeking behaviour with a focus on maternal and child health through community participation.
This is primarily done in vulnerable urban slum settlements with a focus on maternal-child health including capacity building through community engagement.
Strengthening & streamlining maternal referral linkages
With continuum of care approach, SNEHA under its maternal and child health program, focuses on creating health equity for all including access to nine core services with focus on vulnerable population in both slum as well as designated wards. This includes measurement of body vitals , provision for TT Injection, Iron Folic Acid tablets and referral in case of high risk pregnancy as well as diagnostic test.
The programme also empowered the women’s collective group through Mahila Arogya Samiti’s (MAS) under National Health Mission and encouraged collective action on issues related to health, nutrition, water sanitation for vulnerable population. Such efforts has benefited over 1,33,000 people across various wards under Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and thereby , enhancing healthcare access and community engagement beside improved health care indices.
Our community doorstep health program supported Mobile Healthcare Units (MHUs) operated by HelpAge India, delivering primary healthcare to remote areas.
Supporting patients with Thalassemia
bet9¹ÙÍø Foundation extends comprehensive support for Thalassemia patients, providing vital treatments like medication, blood transfusions and Bone Marrow Transplants (BMTs) through partners to families with limited resources.
Supported 35+ patients with BMTs via Sankalp India Foundation and 30+ patients through Borivali BMT Centre. 100+ Thalassemia Major patients supported with 1,500+ NAT tested and leucodepleted blood transfusion through the Arpan Thalassemia Society.
In South Africa, our Sha'p project enhances healthcare access and community development. We have served 51,000+ patients through Sha'p Left Nurse Surgeries, delivered 4,75,000+ medicine parcels benefitting 2,50,000+ people via 47 pickup points, and created 120+ job opportunities.
Our 'Miles for Smiles' initiative, with Operation Smile, funded 130+ cleft and corrective lip surgeries, bringing renewed hope.
