Our Story

Sant Tukaram Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Akola, is a Non-Profit Registered Charitable Trust Hospital dedicated to effectively treating Cancer Patients. We are the only Hospital providing total Awareness, Diagnostic and Treatment facilities to all cancer patients especially to below poverty level (BPL) cancer patients from the rural areas.

The land that houses the hospital was donated by philanthropist Shri.Gangadharji Mulchandji Agrawal (donated 70,000 sq.ft) and Shri.Madhusudanji Agrawal (donated 20,000 sq.ft.). The hospital stands on this 90,000 sq. ft. donated area. The foundation stone was laid by Mr.Girish Agrawal (younger son of Shri. Gangadharji Agrawal) and Bhoomipujan was done by Mrs.Kiran Agrawal and Mr.Girish Agrawal. The inauguration of the hospital was done by Chief Minister Shri. Sharad Pawar.

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Initially a multi-specialty Hospital was planned and accordingly donations were collected for the construction of a 25,000sq.ft. building. As construction progressed it became apparant that there was an immediate need for cancer treatment, so the Board started focusing on providing Cancer Treatment. The other faculties are also available at the hospital but Cancer Treatmenrt has become predominant due to the wide-spread use of tobacco and betelnut in the surrounding areas. Most of the affluent patients would journey to Mumbai or Nagpur for cancer treatment. Sant Tukaram hospital became a beacon of hope for the rural cancer patients in the 8 Districts around Akola.  90% of our patients are Below Poverty Line non-affording patients who have no means to pay.  From 1991 to 2002 the hospital was in grave financial crisis, and maintenance, development and upgradation of the machines and equipment was difficult. No financial support and no government grants were forthcoming. The board of trustees were not interested in taking care of the hospital. Hence, the Hospital nearly closed down. 

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In 2001, seeing the plight of the hospital and the patients, Mr. Girish Agrawal took the reins of the hospital in his hands. The board of trustees were only too happy to let him lead and Mr. Girish Agrawal was requested to become the Head of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Girish Agrawal has worked tirelessly and selflessly for the hospital since 2001. He sold off his well established pharmaceutical distribution business and committed to the hospital whole heartedly. The current success of the hospital is all due to Mr Girish Agrawal and Mrs Kiran Agrawal's (Mr Girish Agrawals wife) effort and dedication. They got the hospital fixed, interiors done, bathrooms installed and the surrounding areas beautified with gardens. Donation drives were conducted. Well known doctors, from Mumbai and Nagpur, were requested to do health camps and awareness camps for the people.

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In 2008 Jivandayee Yojna of Maharashtra Government was extended to include cancer patients and subsidizes partial cost of treatment of poor patients. Since 2012 Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi Yojna was started. It was converted into Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojne, (MJPJAY). Under this scheme patients get subsidized treatment for free. Currently we treat more than 150 patients every day for dialysis and allopathic cancer treatment and about 70 patients are given radiation.

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Due to the hard word and financial accumen of Mr Girish Agrawal, the hospital fund accumulated the required funds and recently a New Linear Accelerator Radiation Unit (LINAC) was installed at the hospital in collaboration with Optimus Oncology. A special bunker was constructed for the radiation room as per manufacturer specifications. Everything was paid for by the Hospital fund. Sant Tukaram Hospital does not receive any Government Aid or Funds and has no political patronage.

Western Vidarbha is a under-developed and poorer area of Maharashtra with a high incidence of farmer suicides. To provide quality and affordable treatment to the poorest part of society, and for accurate and quality preventive, diagnostic and cancer treatment facilities, we need to have modern equipment and be able to maintain them. This requires a lot of funds. Hence there is always a requirement of support from like minded charitable trusts and philanthrophists.