It is estimated that the cancer burden in India is likely to increase from an approximate incidence of 1 million cases in 2012 to about 1.7 million in 2035. Over the years, Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) has witnessed a steady increase in the number of cancer cases registered. In 2019, about 1,10,000 new cases were registered in all TMC centres across the country; of which 45,624 were registered in TMH alone. Currently, 65,000 new cancer patients and 450,000 follow-ups are registered annually. More so, 40% of the patients visiting TMH come from Maharashtra (15% from Mumbai alone), while 60% of the patients come from other states of the country.
The increasing burden of the disease coupled with diversity of patient population and multi-disciplinary and complex nature of cancer-care necessitates creation of a dynamic network for efficient patient navigation for addressing diverse patient needs. With the ever-increasing number of patients visiting the Hospital each year, it is impossible to do justice to every interaction a doctor has with a patient. There is a need felt for trained professionals to help patients manage their medical experience, coordinate their care with clinical team and assist them with navigation in complex, multi-step medical system.