The rapid expansion of cancer treatment facilities in Kolkata, both in government and private sectors, has transformed the city into a major healthcare hub. This growth, however, has revealed a critical gap: a severe shortage of low-cost accommodation for the thousands of financially disadvantaged patients and their families who now flock to the city for care.
A Growing Hub Strains Under Non-Medical Costs
Kolkata now hosts over 15 cancer hospitals, which together see approximately one lakh (100,000) new patients every year. These patients come not only from various districts of West Bengal but also from other parts of eastern India and neighbouring Bangladesh. While medical expertise is increasingly accessible, the associated non-medical expenses are crushing for many. Experts point out that costs for accommodation and food can constitute around 40% of the total treatment expenditure for a cancer patient.
Oncologists and social workers consistently highlight that the availability of budget-friendly stays is grossly inadequate. This forces many poor families into impossible choices, often compromising their treatment journey.
Beacons of Hope: Existing Shelter Initiatives
In response to this crisis, a couple of initiatives have emerged as vital lifelines. In south Kolkata's Lake Gardens, Niramoy Bhavan offers shelter and food at affordable rates. It has a capacity to host 40 cancer patients along with their accompanying family members. Swami Vishwatmanand associated with the facility emphasized the urgent need for more such shelters and revealed plans to set up a dedicated palliative care unit.
Another key facility is run by the Gandhi Seva Sangha in Lake Town. This centre has 36 rooms and has provided support to about 550 patients this year alone. Gautam Saha, the organisation's general secretary, stated they have been operating since 2005 and provide basic ration twice a week to every resident.
Patients like Amiya Ghosh from Malda and Anwar Hossain from Lakshmikantapur, both undergoing throat cancer treatment at Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), have relied on Niramoy Bhavan for over a month. "It is not possible for poor people like me to put up at a hotel," Hossain said, noting that the minimal charge makes prolonged treatment feasible for him and his family.
Experts and Volunteers Call for Concerted Action
The medical community is vocal about the need for systemic support. Senior oncologist Dr. Subir Ganguly called for more affordable accommodations and training for patient caregivers. He also stressed the necessity for both government and private hospitals to start low-cost palliative care indoor facilities. Echoing this, senior radiation oncologist Dr. Pradip Kumar Maity advocated for affordable homestays.
Volunteer groups are also stepping in. The Life Beyond Cancer (LBC) project under Rotary International district 3291 assists children with cancer. Partha Sarkar, chairman of the project, explained they help arrange lodging at these shelters and, from January, will focus their support on the Gandhi Seva Sadan facility. "We look forward to a new shelter so that more patients can be accommodated," Sarkar stated, underscoring the continuous demand.
The consensus is clear: Kolkata's success in attracting cancer patients for treatment must now be matched by a compassionate and practical expansion of support systems that address the fundamental need for shelter, making life-saving treatment truly accessible to all.
