Docs bat for more shelters for cancer patients’ kin
Times of India | 28 December 2025
Kolkata: The expansion of cancer treatment at govt and private facilities in Kolkata has led to an influx of patients to the city from various districts of Bengal, parts of eastern India, and Bangladesh.
But low-cost accommodation for patients from financially disadvantaged backgrounds are inadequate, according to oncologists and social workers for welfare of cancer patients.
Currently, the city has over 15 cancer hospitals where around 1 lakh new patients visit every year for treatment. According to experts, non-medical expenses like accommodation and food account for around 40% of cancer treatment costs.
Two homes – Niramoy Bhavan at Lake Gardens in south Kolkata and another facility run by Gandhi Seva Sangha at Lake Town – have recently come up to provide shelter and food to cancer patients at affordable rates. Those operating these homes are seeking the help of others to establish more such homes in the city.
Niramoy Bhavan has a capacity to accommodate 40 cancer patients and their families.
"More such shelters is the need of the hour. We also plan to set up a palliative care unit for cancer patients," said Swami Vishwatmanand.
The facility run by Gandhi Seva Sangha has 36 rooms. This year, about 550 patients have availed themselves of this facility, according to Gautam Saha, general secretary of the organisation. "We have been running this facility since 2005 and provide basic ration twice a week to every patient who stays here," he said.
Amiya Ghosh from Malda and Anwar Hossain from Lakshmikantapur, both undergoing treatment for throat cancer at Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), have been staying at Niramoy Bhavan for over a month. "It is not possible for poor people like me to put up at a hotel or guest house for treatment. My family members are staying with me here. We pay a minimal charge for using the accommodation. Without this, we could not have been able to undergo treatment," said Hossain.
Senior oncologist, Subir Ganguly, said, "While the number of patients visiting the city for cancer treatment is on the rise, we also need more affordable accommodations. There needs to be shelters for cancer patients and their relatives as well. We are also planning to start imparting training to cancer patients' kin, who are caregivers. Both government and private hospitals need to start palliative care indoor facilities at cheaper costs." Senior radiation oncologist Pradip Kumar Maity, too, called for affordable homestays for cancer patients.
Volunteers of the Life Beyond Cancer (LBC) project under Rotary International district 3291 help children with cancer.
Partha Sarkar, chairman of the project, said, "We arrange for the lodging of these patients at these two facilities in the city. From Jan onward, LBC will take up Gandhi Seva Sadan alone. We look forward to a new shelter so that more patients can be accommodated."