Cancer Charity Trust provides financial aid to help low income patients in India

Dr Sanket Mehta and the Cancer Charity Trust (CCT) provide financial assistance to patients in India who cannot afford cancer treatments due to economic hardship.

The Cancer Charity Trust works alongside SSO Cancer Hospital to bridge the gap between the high cost of medical care and the limited savings of families. Dr Sanket Mehta founded the trust because he observed patients delaying or stopping necessary surgeries and chemotherapy because of the combined burden of hospital fees, medicines, and lost wages.

The trust uses a verification process to assess a family's income and financial position before directing limited funds to those who need them most. During the financial year ending March 2026, the trust supported 537 patients with a total of ₹1,57,37,734 in assistance. This funding covered 19 categories of surgeries and treatments involving 65 surgeons. Dr Mehta emphasizes that the trust aims to ensure that a person's economic status does not determine whether they receive quality healthcare.

The trust advocates for a system where early detection is linked to affordable treatment pathways. Dr Mehta notes that screening alone is insufficient if patients cannot afford the subsequent biopsies and specialist consultations. He calls for collaboration between private hospitals, corporate donors, and public health systems to improve awareness and diagnostic access. The trust plans to expand its support and strengthen its systems for accounting for donations and assessing patient needs.