ICICI Bank to Fund INR 550 Cr Cancer Block at HBCHRC Vizag
The upcoming facility, the ICICI Foundation Block for Child and Blood Cancer, will span nearly 3.9 lakh sq ft across eight floors. It is projected to serve 3,000 patients annually, adding to the hospital’s current capacity of 6,200 patients.
ICICI Bank, in partnership with Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), has announced the construction of a new state-of-the-art building at the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCHRC) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
The project, which involves an investment of INR 550 Cr, is part of the bank’s expanded commitment of INR 1,800 Cr to strengthening cancer care infrastructure in India.
The upcoming facility, the ICICI Foundation Block for Child and Blood Cancer, will span nearly 3.9 lakh square feet across eight floors. It is projected to serve 3,000 patients annually, adding to the hospital’s current capacity of 6,200 patients.
The new block will house more than 215 beds and is expected to be completed by 2027, subject to approvals.
Pradeep Kumar Sinha, chairman of ICICI Bank, laid the foundation stone in the presence of Sandeep Batra, executive director at ICICI Bank, and Dr Sudeep Gupta, director of TMC, Mumbai.
“This project reflects our commitment to enabling accessible and high-quality medical care for individuals in need. This project, one of the largest in eastern corridor for child and blood cancer, will serve patients from Andhra Pradesh and nearby eastern states, helping address the growing need for cancer treatment,” said Sinha.
Boost for Paediatric Cancer Care
The initiative will be overseen by the ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth, the CSR arm of ICICI Bank.
Dr Umesh Mahantshetty, director of HBCHRC Visakhapatnam, welcomed the collaboration, calling it a milestone for expanding access to specialised cancer treatment in the region.
“The partnership with ICICI Foundation is a testament to the collective efforts of our institutions in providing top-notch care and improving cancer outcomes for patients across the country," he said.
“Paediatric & Hematolymphoid Cancers require specialised care in terms of diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, support services including blood centre, nutrition, rehabilitation etc. and expertise. We have been registering approximately 200 new paediatric cancer and 350-400 Hematolymphoid cancer patients every year in the past 3 years. With the new block added we will be able to augment the existing services substantially including expansion of bone marrow transplant programme and also initiate immunotherapy. This will also provide ample opportunities to undertake research related to patients in this region,” said Dr Girish Chinnaswamy, professor and head of paediatric oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.
ICICI Bank had earlier committed INR 1,200 Cr in 2022 to develop three new blocks across TMC centres in Visakhapatnam, Navi Mumbai, and New Chandigarh.
The enhanced INR 1,800 crore initiative now covers a total built-up area of 10.7 lakh square feet, which will be equipped with cutting-edge medical technology, including 19 linear accelerators (LINACs) and 555 beds.
“Recognising TMC’s latest requirements, we are pleased to enhance our commitment to INR 1,800 crore. Spanning a total area of 10.7 lakh square feet, these new blocks are designed to be equipped with state-of-the-art medical facilities and research wings. These blocks will together accommodate 19 LINACs and 555 beds. Once fully operational, they will serve as regional hubs,” said Batra.
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