Narayana Health, W Health Ventures, and 2070 Health have joined forces to launch Everhope Oncology, a chain of medical and surgical oncology centres aimed at bringing cancer treatment closer to patients.With $10 million in seed funding, Everhope will set up facilities in Delhi and Mumbai, with plans to expand to 10 cities over the next three years.Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Viren Shetty, Vice Chairman of Narayana Health, highlighted the need for a decentralised approach to cancer care. “We are building large hospitals with the latest technology and highly skilled doctors, but people don’t want to come to the hospital for treatment. They want to be treated closer to home in a more comfortable setting,” he said.
This realisation led to the creation of Everhope, which aims to make cancer care more accessible by setting up smaller, strategically located facilities.India faces a significant cancer burden, with an estimated 150 million people expected to be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime.
Dr Pankaj Jethwani, Managing Partner of W Health Ventures, said that the healthcare system is not prepared to handle this scale. “Patients not only go through complex clinical journeys but also face anxiety, uncertainty, and lack of clarity. It doesn’t have to be this way,” he said.Everhope plans to address this by offering early diagnosis, daycare chemotherapy, and surgical care in a patient-friendly format.Affordability remains a key challenge in cancer treatment, but Shetty pointed out that medicine costs in India have become more reasonable due to government interventions. “What we’re trying to solve is healthcare access. The biggest barrier isn’t affordability but the logistical challenge of getting a loved one to a hospital for screening and treatment,” he said. By setting up centres in convenient locations, Everhope aims to reduce this burden.According to Jethwani, technology and innovation will play a crucial role in the evolution of cancer care. He noted that low-cost, accurate screening technologies are becoming more viable, leading to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes. He also added that daycare chemotherapy, provided in a more comfortable setting, will become the standard in India.Looking ahead, Everhope’s vision is to create a patient-first model that prioritises empathy and convenience. While the initial focus is on India, the long-term goal is to scale further.”There’s so much to do to meet the needs of 150 million Indians who will get cancer in their lifetime,” Jethwani said. “Our goal is to bring best-in-class, patient-centred, empathetic care closer to the patient’s home.”Watch the accompanying video for the entire conversation.
