Mahavir Cancer Sansthan & Research Centre

Mahavir Cancer Sansthan & Research Centre (also known as Mahavir Cancer Institute) is one of Eastern India's largest and most established dedicated oncology hospitals, located in Phulwari Sharif, Patna, Bihar. The institute has been at the forefront of cancer care in the eastern region for over two decades, providing an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to cancer diagnosis, treatment, and research.

Established with the mission of making quality cancer care accessible to the large and often under-served population of Bihar, Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and neighbouring Nepal, the institute serves thousands of patients annually. Before Mahavir Cancer Sansthan was established, patients from the region had to travel to distant metropolitan centres like Delhi, Kolkata, or Mumbai for specialized oncology care — a burden that was both financially and physically demanding for patients and their families. The institute significantly reduced this burden by providing comprehensive cancer services — surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation therapy, haematology, paediatric oncology, and palliative care — under one roof in Patna. It is affiliated with educational programmes in oncology and stands as a premier institution for cancer care in the entire Gangetic plains region of eastern India.

Mahavir Cancer Sansthan & Research Centre provides a comprehensive range of oncology services covering the full spectrum of cancer types and treatment modalities. Surgical oncology covers head and neck cancers, breast cancer surgery, gastrointestinal cancers (oesophageal, gastric, colorectal), hepatobiliary cancers, gynaecological cancers (cervical, ovarian, endometrial, vulvar), urological cancers (bladder, prostate, kidney), and soft tissue sarcomas. Medical oncology provides inpatient and outpatient chemotherapy with modern cytotoxic and targeted therapy protocols across all cancer types.

Radiation oncology uses external beam radiotherapy for curative and palliative intent, along with brachytherapy for cervical and other gynaecological cancers. The haematology and paediatric oncology department manages blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, as well as childhood cancers. Supportive specialties include radiology and nuclear medicine for staging, pathology and molecular diagnostics for tumour characterisation, palliative care and pain management, and cancer rehabilitation to help patients recover and maintain quality of life during and after treatment.

Mahavir Cancer Sansthan & Research Centre operates with 100 inpatient beds dedicated entirely to oncology patients, allowing for specialized cancer nursing care and monitoring. The hospital's radiation oncology department is equipped with linear accelerators for external beam radiotherapy, allowing both conventional fractionation and more complex regimens for optimal tumour dose delivery. Brachytherapy suites provide intracavitary radiation for gynaecological and other cancers.

The medical oncology department has dedicated inpatient beds and a day-care chemotherapy infusion unit, allowing patients to receive IV chemotherapy on an outpatient basis where clinically appropriate. The pathology and diagnostics department includes a fully equipped histopathology laboratory, immunohistochemistry for tumour typing, and arrangements for molecular testing in collaboration with reference laboratories. Radiology services include CT scanning and ultrasound for staging and follow-up imaging. A full-service blood bank and clinical pharmacy support the needs of patients on complex chemotherapy regimens, and palliative care services are integrated into the patient management pathway.

Mahavir Cancer Sansthan & Research Centre serves a cross-border patient population from Nepal, who find Patna geographically closer and more accessible than metropolitan centres like Delhi or Kolkata for cancer treatment. Patients from the Terai region of Nepal and from Bihar's border areas frequently travel to the institute for surgical, medical, and radiation oncology services.

Patna's Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport offers connections to Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and major Indian cities, making the hospital accessible for patients from across India and neighbouring countries. The hospital provides cancer care at significantly more affordable costs than metro city hospitals, with access to government health schemes (Ayushman Bharat) and charitable support for economically disadvantaged patients. Families of patients from distant locations are accommodated in nearby facilities, and the hospital staff communicate in Hindi, Maithili, and Bhojpuri in addition to English. The institute can be contacted for appointments and cost estimates through its official website or phone.

Mahavir Cancer Sansthan & Research Centre is one of the most recognised oncology institutions in the eastern India region, with over two decades of dedicated cancer care experience. The institute is registered with the Bihar Medical Council and operates in compliance with the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act. It accepts patients under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) government health insurance scheme, making comprehensive cancer care financially accessible to eligible patients from below-poverty-line families.

The institute is affiliated with oncology training and research programmes and is listed in cancer atlases and national oncology registries as a major cancer centre for the eastern region. It has TPA and medical insurance tie-ups to facilitate cashless treatment for insured patients. The institute's contribution to cancer care in Bihar — a state with significant historical limitations in specialist medical infrastructure — has been widely acknowledged by health administrators, oncology societies, and patient advocacy groups in the region.