In a major push towards improving cancer care infrastructure in India’s eastern corridor, ICICI Bank, in collaboration with Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), has announced the commencement of construction of a new state-of-the-art facility at the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCHRC) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Named the ICICI Foundation Block for Child and Blood Cancer, the eight-storey facility will be spread over 3.9 lakh sq. ft. and is expected to serve over 3,000 patients annually. This comes in addition to the existing HBCHRC facility’s capacity of 6,200 patients.
ICICI Bank is committing ₹550 crore for this project through its CSR arm, the ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth, which will oversee its execution. Once complete in 2027 (pending approvals), the building will house over 215 beds, making it one of the largest cancer care centres in eastern India with a specific focus on pediatric and hematolymphoid cancers.
The foundation stone for the new building was unveiled by Mr. Pradeep Kumar Sinha, Chairman, ICICI Bank, alongside Mr. Sandeep Batra, Executive Director, ICICI Bank, and Dr. Sudeep Gupta, Director of Tata Memorial Centre.
On the occasion, Mr. Sinha also inaugurated the N.K. Rao Auditorium, another infrastructure addition supported by ICICI Foundation at the hospital.
“This initiative aligns with our commitment to strengthening the country’s healthcare infrastructure and improving access to world-class cancer treatment for children and patients with blood-related cancers,” said Mr. Sinha.
Mr. Batra added that the initiative is part of ICICI Bank’s expanded commitment of ₹1,800 crore towards TMC projects across Visakhapatnam, Navi Mumbai, and New Chandigarh. “These new blocks, covering 10.7 lakh sq. ft., will collectively house 19 LINACs, 555 beds, and advanced research wings,” he noted.
Dr. Umesh Mahantshetty, Director of HBCHRC Visakhapatnam, thanked ICICI Foundation for its donation, calling it a “major boost” for advanced cancer treatment in the region.
According to Dr. Girish Chinnaswamy, Head of Pediatric Oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital, the new block will facilitate intensive chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation, CAR-T cell therapy, advanced radiation, and diagnostics. It will include 14 BMT rooms, 14 ICUs, and five operating theatres, along with research and training centres.
The project underlines a growing public-private partnership model in healthcare where corporations play a critical role in expanding access to specialized care in underserved regions.
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