While the app, in more than two years, has so far received over 18,000 cancer treatment cases for the second opinion, around 2,000 of them were cases of paediatric cancer
On the occasion of International Childhood Cancer Day celebrated on February 15, the Parel-based Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) Hospital will be reducing the cost of the second opinion given on paediatric cancer cases by doctors through Navya App.
While the app, in more than two years, has so far received over 18,000 cancer treatment cases for the second opinion, around 2,000 of them were cases of paediatric cancer. Generally, they charge Rs 6,500 for the second opinion through the app, but for children coming from families with poor financial background, the cost has been reduced to Rs 1,500.
Dr Shripad Banavali, head of the department of Medical Oncology and Paediatric Oncology at TMC Hospital, said, “The reduction in cost for the second opinion is only for children from families with poor financial background. Their financial condition will be decided on the facts that through which hospital they are receiving treatment and if their family’s annual income is less than Rs 2.5 lakh. As a pilot initiative, reduction in cost will be provided to the first 100 child patients taking the second opinion.”
The online facility allows patients to upload medical documents, consult experts from hospitals and enrol with the National Cancer Grid, and also get an opinion within 24 hours.
According to the doctors at TMC, the number of cases is increasing every year. So far, from January 2018 till date, TMC has registered 120 paediatric cancer cases. “Most of the second opinion cases are from the northern and north-eastern India. Majority of them are blood cancer cases in children. At least 70 per cent paediatric cancer cases are curable. They only need proper and early diagnosis and treatment. While there are many paediatric cancer cases, there is hardly 45 paediatric oncologist across India,” said Dr Tushar Vora, professor of paediatric oncology at TMC.
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