About DCFRC
Dharamshila Cancer Foundation And Research Centre (DCFRC) was registered as a Society in 1990, by concerned relatives and friends of cancer patients. The founder members included a Paediatrician, an Onco Pathologist, a Lawyer, two Chartered accountants, a Nutritionist and three industrialists. All of them could not get desired Cancer treatment facilities for their near and dear ones, when they required them the most.
Dharama means duty and Shila means foundation. By registering Dharamshila Cancer Foundation And Research Centre (DCFRC) they laid the foundation (Shila) of their Duty (Dharma) i.e. making Cancer treatment facilities available, accessible and affordable for the Society, at large.
When we need something very strongly for ourselves, most of us try hard and get it. But to do something, which we do not need for ourselves, but for the society at large, most of us want to leave it for Government or others.
To understand Government’s view point and get guidelines, one of the founder member, Dr. S. Khanna, went to Ministry of Health. At that point of time, Government had other priorities in the health sector like immunization, diarrhoea etc but cancer was not one of them.
Concerned about non-availability of comprehensive Cancer Care facilities under one roof, Negative attitude towards Cancer by Medical professionals, policy makers, public and a burning desire to change the cancer scene in India, made our resolve stronger.Dreaming of setting up Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre was a great challenge without financial backing, knowledge, skill and experience. The only strength these members had was:
- RESOLVE to make cancer treatment available, accessible and affordable.
- PASSION for cancer.
- PURSUIT for excellence.
- PERSISTANCE for achieving objectives.
- PERSEVERENCE for becoming leader in oncology.
- RISK taking ability.
- STRONG support and Guidance from medical professionals and Delhities.
It was a big challenge to travel roads less travelled, traditional rules for setting up hospitals were not applicable. There was no defined model to follow, funds were inadequate, the survival and success depended on the ability to be committed, creative, flexible and adaptable. We trusted our own instincts, set our own rules and embraced challenges. All this demanded risk taking of the strategic kind, where you step into untested waters, reflect upon your own core strengths and think of the needs and wants of the cancer patients. As we walked along these less travelled roads, our skills were further honed to take on the unexpected.
Two acres of land (8097 s.q.mets) was purchased from DDA in 1990. The Foundation stone of the hospital was laid by then Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Shri M.L. Fotedar and Shri Sunil Dutt (Cine Star) on 30.08.1991.
Within four years of registering the society, we planned, build and equipped the first phase of the DHARAMSHILA CANCER HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH CENTRE with 100 beds and commissioned it on 30TH AUGUST, 1994. The hospital started providing facilities for Early Detection, Radiation Therapy including Brachytherapy, Chemotherapy, Cancer Surgeries and Supportive Care to cancer patients.
There was an acute shortage of trained oncologists, nurses and other support staff at that time. Two years of advocacy with National Board of Examination for starting DNB programme in Medical Oncology paid dividends. Dharamshila Hospital And Research Centre was the first hospital of India, accredited by National Board of Examination (NBE), to start the DNB programme in Medical Oncology (a 3 years full time doctorate Programme) on 1st July 2001. NBE is an Autonomous academic body, under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
As expected, the hospital did not become financially self-sustaining in the first decade but it kept on growing gradually. For obtaining best treatment outcomes, one needs highly trained and skilled manpower, state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic equipment and integrated Quality and Environment Management Systems.
Our Journey from 2002 Onwards
Quest for quality brought the Governing Body, Hospital Management, Faculty and the entire staff together. The Quality Policy, Quality and Management systems, Work Instructions for following Standard Operating Procedures and Processes were documented. The staff was trained in implementing the Policy and systems.
The hospital was Certified by TUV Germany, for implementing integrated Quality and Environmental management systems as per ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:1996 standards on 11.10.2002.
On 30th August 2002 we installed state-of-the-art digital, dual energy, Linear Accelerator and Eclips 3D treatment planning system and same was inaugurated by the then, Hon. President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam and Lt. Governor of Delhi Shri. Vijai Kapoor on 30.10.2002.
Dharamshila Cancer Foundation And Research Centre achieved its next pioneering step by becoming Indis’s First hospital to be Accredited by NBE for starting DNB programme in Surgical Oncology on 5th August 2004. We also got accredited for starting DNB programme in Radiation Oncology on the same day.
Dr. Meenu Walia, was the first student of India, to have cleared DNB Medical Oncology exam on 02.11.2004 from Dharamshila Cancer Hospital And Research Centre.
On the same day, we laid the Foundation stone of the 2nd Phase of the hospital for additional beds and facilities, on the additional 5060 sqmt of land.
In 2005, we installed our Second Linear Accelerator with capabilities of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy and also upgraded our Lab, Blood Bank and Radiology equipments. By this time Dharamshila Hospital had become the show window for cutting edge technology in India.
In 2007, due to constant pressure from the patient’s relatives to remove the word cancer form hospital’s name, we changed our name from Dharamshila Cancer Hospital And Research Centre to Dharamshila Hospital And Research Centre.
On 20th October 2007 the Chief Minister of Delhi, Mrs. Sheila Dixit, inaugurated the Second Phase of the hospital with 200 additional beds and other facilities which included New Oncology OPD, Day Care Centre, Modern Labs, Blood Bank and Wards.
Our quest for Quality, enabled us to implement accreditation standards for hospitals. Dharamshila Hospital became the First Cancer Hospital of India, Accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) in 2008.
In 2010, our Labs were Accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) for Medical Testing in the fields of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Pathology, Haematology & Immunohaematology, Microbiology & Serology, Histopathology and Cytopathology as per the Standard ISO 15189 : 2007.
Dharamshila Hospital And Research Centre was the first hospital of North India accredited by Indian Nursing Council for starting Post Basic Diploma in Oncology Nursing on 04th June 2010. This course provides specialised training in Nursing Oncology.
On January 2011 we installed North India’s first, third generation Linear Accelerator with capability to deliver IMRT, IGRT, VMAT, SRS, SRT, SBRT and TBI along with best treatment Planning System i.e. Monaco, CMSxi0, ERGO++ and Plato.
With all the cutting edge technologies in place, highly trained and skilled manpower, implementation of NABH and NABL standards, we started achieving our objectives and became the preferred destination for cancer patients from all over India and neighbouring countries.
On 21st Feb 2012 we installed Delhi’s First High Definition (HD) PET- CT with Ultrafast LSO Crystal Technology
On 20th January 2014 we Installed MRI - MAGNETOM® Avanto, A Tim+Dot System, The landmark in 1.5T imaging.
On 02nd July 2013 we installed second Microselectron, Digital (HDR-V3) Brachytherapy afterloader for Precise And Targeted Cancer Treatment.
Dharamshila Hospital was the first Hospital of India to start Haploidentical (Half matched) Bone Marrow Transplants in 2014 in addition to Autologous and Allogeneic Transplants.
On 31st November 2015 we installed 3rd 32 Slice CT Scanner (Somatom Scope). Focused on clinical excellence SOMATOM Scope supports perfect balance between the right dose and image quality.
On 01st April 2017 Dharamshila Cancer Foundation And Research Centre, Signed, Operate and Manage Agreement with Dr. Devi Shetty’s flagship organization Narayana Hrudayalaya. The ownership of the hospital is still with Dharamshila Cancer Foundation And Research Centre. Dharamshila Hospital and Research Centre is now rechristened as Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital (DNSH).
