Cancer Institute (WIA)

The Cancer Institute (WIA), is a public charitable institution dedicated to the care of cancer patients for over 65 years. The Institute started as a registered Society in 1954 with 12 beds in a hutment like structure. It has now grown over the years into a comprehensive cancer centre comprising a hospital with about 675 beds, a research division, a college of oncological sciences, epidemiology unit with hospital & population based registries, a division of preventive oncology and a wholesome department of palliative care. The hospital provides state of art treatment to one and all. It has both a National and International stature. The Institute has several firsts to its credit. Some of them are - the country’s first Cobalt beam treatment unit was started here. South East Asia’s first Linear Accelerator was installed here. Institute was recognised as the first Regional Cancer Centre in the country and recently as State Cancer Institute by both Central and State Governments, the only nongovernmental organisation to have been so recognised. In the field of cancer education, the first MCh surgical oncology and DM medical oncology courses in the country was started here. MSc Medical Physics and MPhil in Psycho oncology are also firsts in India. We have the country’s largest population based cancer registry covering the entire State of Tamil Nadu with a population of about 76 million. This maybe also be the largest registry in the world. The Institute has probably the country’s only long term systematic census based cancer screening program. It is being done in four districts of the State. Of the hospital patients, 25-30% are treated totally free and another 35–40% pay a highly subsidised amount which is mostly supported through some welfare schemes. These general ward patients are also provided food and bed by the Institute. We also have a Dharmasala where these patients can stay with their attendant during the period of evaluation where again accommodation and food is provided free. Only about 40% are paying beds, out of which 45% are C category patients whose payment just covers the cost of their treatment. Annually, over 15,500 new patients and 120,000 follow up cases are seen at the Institute. They are drawn from all over the country, mainly from the Southern States of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry, Kerala and from the North East. As a comprehensive cancer centre with proliferation in technology & knowledge and commitment to cancer control, our needs are multiple and varied as we always keep up with state of art care to everybody. The ethos of the Institute is ‘Service to all’ irrespective of socio economic status, community or religion.