Hyderabad-based Grace Cancer Foundation (GCF) has signed an MoU with the Meghalaya government (and Tripura) to roll out free cancer screening programs across underserved areas in the North East, focusing on early detection, awareness, and timely treatment through the GCF-WAY Model, launched on World Cancer Day 2026.
Glimpse:
The MoU enables GCF to expand its proven cancer screening initiatives into Meghalaya and Tripura, aiming to improve early diagnosis in remote communities. Using the GCF-WAY Model, the collaboration includes free screening drives, awareness campaigns, patient support, rehabilitation, and research. Announced during the second Meghalaya Cancer Conclave in Shillong on World Cancer Day (February 4, 2026), the programs target over one lakh screenings nationwide in 2026, building on GCF’s 2025 record of screening over 61,000 people and detecting more than 1,000 early cancers. The initiative responds to regional healthcare gaps and follows an appeal from Telangana Governor to extend services to the North East.
In a significant push to combat cancer in India’s North Eastern region, the Grace Cancer Foundation (GCF), a Hyderabad-based NGO led by surgical oncologist Dr Sunkavalli Chinnababu, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Meghalaya. The agreement, which also covers Tripura, was formalized to launch widespread free cancer screening programs, with a strong emphasis on early detection in underserved and remote communities where access to preventive oncology remains limited.
The partnership leverages GCF’s established GCF-WAY Model a structured approach to cancer screening that has already demonstrated success in other parts of India. The initiative encompasses multiple pillars: community-based cancer awareness drives, early detection through screenings, patient counseling and support, timely referrals for treatment, post-diagnosis rehabilitation, and research-oriented efforts to build local data and insights.
The MoU was rolled out on World Cancer Day (February 4, 2026) during the second Meghalaya Cancer Conclave held in Shillong, aligning with the state’s broader Meghalaya Mission for Cancer Prevention and Early Detection. This flagship state program shifts focus from reactive treatment to proactive prevention, incorporating lifestyle interventions, public awareness, HPV testing for cervical cancer prevention, and digital tools like a cancer screening mobile app.
GCF’s expansion into the North East follows growing demand for its services and a direct appeal by Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma during the Foundation’s 11th anniversary celebrations. In 2025 alone, GCF screened over 61,000 individuals nationwide, leading to the early detection of more than 1,000 cancer cases. For 2026, the organization has set an ambitious target of screening over one lakh people across India, with Meghalaya and Tripura marking key new frontiers.
Over its 12+ years of operation, GCF has reached nearly 1.4 crore individuals through various outreach programs, emphasizing empathy, accessibility, and quality in cancer care. The collaboration with Meghalaya strengthens regional efforts to reduce cancer burden by catching the disease early, when treatment success rates are highest, and ensures no citizen faces the challenge alone.
"The decision to expand into Meghalaya was aligned with the Foundation’s long-standing focus on improving access to quality cancer screening services. We have progressively scaled our operations beyond our initial geographies in response to growing demand for early detection programmes."
By
HB Team
