Since its launch in 2014, The Cherian Foundation\u2019s flagship Gift Hair Gift Confidence (GHGC) initiative has mobilised more than 30,000 hair donors and provided over 2,500 premium natural human hair wigs, free, through a network of more than 35 partner hospitals across India. (Representational image)<\/p>\n
In an effort to address the quality of life of cancer patients, especially for the economically disadvantaged, Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), the primary cancer care arm of the Government\u2019s Department of Atomic Energy, has inked a partnership with The Cherian Foundation to access natural human hair wigs.<\/p>\n
As part of the agreement, Mumbai\u2019s Tata Memorial Hospital will serve as the nodal agency for the receipt, coordination and distribution of wigs across the Tata Memorial Centre network, the organisation said. A structured framework would be put in place to ensure equitable allocation, utilisation tracking and impact reporting, ensuring transparency, accountability and timely access for patients across the network.<\/p>\n
Fix anti-cancer medicine prices urgently: House panel rejects Govt reply, demands capping trade margins<\/p>\n
CS Pramesh, Director, Tata Memorial Hospital (Mumbai), pointed out that they were one of the oldest and largest cancer centres in the world, founded in 1941. \u201cWhile improving cancer outcomes like survival are critical, it is equally important to focus on the quality of life of patients undergoing treatment, and the high-quality human hair wigs provided by the Cherian Foundation will help our patients go through their treatment with dignity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr Shalaka Joshi, Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology (Breast Unit), told businessline, providing good quality wigs was one step in\u00a0improving the quality of life during treatment and after, as some women may not want to show up at their workplaces with hair-loss, also because of the perceived stigma.<\/p>\n
\u201cChemotherapy is an integral part of treatment of cancer for better outcomes. Nearly 90 per cent of women diagnosed with breast or gynaecological cancers receive chemotherapy. Hair loss is one of the most visible and emotionally challenging side effects of cancer treatment creating social stigma and may lead to patients defaulting on their treatment affecting long-term outcome. While premium natural human hair wigs can play a significant role in restoring confidence and emotional well-being, they are generally not covered under health insurance, making them unaffordable for many families. The quality of previously used artificial wigs was sub-optimal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tata Memorial stands by study on papaya-leaf extract\u2019s impact on platelet count in chemotherapy patients<\/p>\n
The wigs cost about \u20b930,000 per piece, and a lot of the women can\u2019t afford spending so much on their chemotherapy, she said, adding that the free wig for patients was commendable.<\/p>\n
The Cherian Foundation, through its flagship Gift Hair Gift Confidence (GHGC) initiative, is donating 500 premium natural human hair wigs, valued at \u20b91.5 crore, to Tata Memorial Centre. The wigs have been pre-packaged and allocated based on the patient requirements of each participating centre in the TMC network. The foundation has committed to manufacturing and donating 1,000 premium natural human hair wigs annually through the initiative.<\/p>\n
Since its launch in 2014, the initiative has mobilised more than 30,000 hair donors and provided over 2,500 premium natural human hair wigs, free, through a network of more than 35 partner hospitals across India, it said.<\/p>\n
Sara Cherian, Executive Trustee of The Cherian Foundation and a cancer survivor, who spearheads the Gift Hair Gift Confidence initiative, said in a statement: \u201cAs a cancer survivor, I understand that losing your hair is about far more than appearance\u2014it can profoundly affect your confidence, identity and emotional well-being. Gift Hair Gift Confidence began before my own diagnosis, but my cancer journey gave it an even deeper personal meaning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Copyright\u00a9 2026, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.<\/p>\n
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.<\/p>\n