A cancer diagnosis marks the beginning of a complex journey, not only for patients but also for their families. Beyond medical treatment, navigating referrals, accessing the right specialists, understanding available services, and overcoming social, psychological, and financial challenges can often delay timely care. Recognising this critical gap, Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) and ECHO India launched the TMC Patient Navigation Oncology Care ECHO Program, India's first structured virtual learning initiative dedicated to strengthening patient navigation in oncology. The programme was launched under ECHO India’s flagship initiative Cancer Care Bharat, with support from the Merck Foundation, to strengthen cancer care capacity across the country.
The program combines TMC's expertise in cancer care with ECHO India's collaborative Hub-and-Spoke knowledge-sharing model to build the capacity of professionals supporting patients and caregivers across the cancer care continuum. Through structured virtual learning sessions, participants engaged with leading oncology experts and peers from diverse healthcare settings, discussing real-world challenges and exploring practical solutions through case-based learning.
Designed for Medical Officers, National Health Mission (NHM) Program Coordinators, and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) representatives, the programme was implemented in collaboration with NHM Maharashtra, the State Institute of Health and Family Welfare (SIHFW), Nagpur, and BMC, enabling frontline healthcare professionals to strengthen their ability to support patients throughout their cancer care journey.
Among the participants was Dr. Pradnya Thakur, Medical Officer - NCD from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). For Dr. Thakur, the programme offered a new perspective on what it truly means to support patients living with cancer.
"The training helped us understand that caring for a patient goes far beyond the disease," she shares. "As doctors, we often focus only on the medical aspect. Through these sessions, we realised that every patient's social, psychological and financial circumstances also influence their treatment journey and deserve equal attention."
This shift in perspective has strengthened the way Dr. Thakur and her colleagues approach patient support. Rather than focusing solely on clinical referrals, they are now better equipped to understand the broader challenges patients face and provide more holistic guidance throughout their care journey.
The programme also deepened participants' understanding of patient navigation and referral pathways through interactive, case-based discussions led by experts from Tata Memorial Centre. These sessions provided practical insights into helping patients access the right services at the right time while addressing challenges that can delay treatment.
"Earlier, we were not fully aware of the preventive oncology services available at Tata Memorial Hospital or how best to guide patients," Dr. Thakur explains. "Now we are able to guide patients more confidently and appropriately. The discussions and case examples have helped us improve the way we support patients every day."
One of the programme's greatest strengths, according to Dr. Thakur, was the opportunity to interact directly with leading oncology specialists - experts whom many participants had previously only encountered through conferences or academic literature. The sessions also brought together healthcare professionals from cancer centres across India, creating a collaborative learning environment where participants exchanged experiences, discussed real-world cases, and learned from one another's approaches to patient care.
The relationships built during the programme extended beyond the virtual sessions. Dr. Thakur notes that participants continue to seek guidance from faculty members whenever they encounter complex situations, reinforcing the value of mentorship and continuous learning in improving patient care.
Looking ahead, she believes patient navigation has the potential to transform healthcare delivery well beyond oncology. "Timely treatment is crucial in every disease. Patient navigation helps reduce the time patients often lose before beginning treatment by guiding them through the healthcare system. It should become an integral part of hospitals - not only for cancer care, but for other conditions requiring long-term treatment as well."
Dr. Thakur's experience reflects the broader vision of the TMC Patient Navigation Oncology Care ECHO Program, to strengthen the capacity of healthcare professionals with the knowledge, confidence, and collaborative support needed to guide patients through increasingly complex care pathways. By fostering practical learning, expert mentorship, and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange, the programme is contributing to a more coordinated, compassionate, and patient-centred approach to cancer care in India.