R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, FEB 25
In a powerful step toward safeguarding women’s health and dignity, Gleneagles Hospital Chennai, a Fortis Network Hospital on Wednesday launched Sakhi — a Comprehensive One-Stop Breast Care Clinic, creating a dedicated “pink shield” that brings screening, diagnosis, treatment, and reconstruction under a single coordinated care pathway.
Marking the launch with a compassionate outreach initiative, the hospital provided free mammogram screening to 10 underserved women, while extending 50% discount on mammograms and free consultations for all patients until March 31, 2026, making life-saving breast care more accessible and affordable.
- Dedicated Sakhi clinic empowers women with early detection, advanced treatment, reconstruction under one roof
- Free mammograms for underserved women; 50% discount and free consultations till March 31, 2026
- Integrated multidisciplinary care ensures faster diagnosis, breast conservation, and improved survival outcomes
- Experts warn 1 in 28 Indian women at risk; early screening can boost survival beyond 90%
The clinic was inaugurated by the acclaimed actress Nalini, alongside senior hospital leadership, oncology specialists, and multidisciplinary care teams committed to transforming breast cancer outcomes through early detection and personalised care.
A One-Stop Lifeline for Women’s Breast Health
Conceptualised as a comprehensive breast care destination, Sakhi addresses the entire spectrum of breast health — from preventive screening and diagnosis to advanced treatment, reconstruction, and rehabilitation.
The centre integrates surgical oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, and advanced diagnostics, ensuring seamless evaluation and faster clinical decisions. Equipped with cutting-edge technologies such as 3D mammography, tomosynthesis, stereotactic biopsies, and AI-enabled diagnostics, Sakhi is designed to detect disease early and treat it precisely.
The clinic also focuses on breast conservation surgery and oncoplastic reconstruction, ensuring women not only survive cancer but retain confidence, dignity, and quality of life.
Experts Emphasise Early Detection as the Strongest Defence
Highlighting the clinic’s patient-centric model, Dr Balaji Ramani, Director, Gleneagles Institute of Oncology, said: “Breast care today requires a multidisciplinary and personalised approach. With Sakhi, patients can move seamlessly from screening and diagnosis to treatment planning, breast conservation surgery and reconstruction within a coordinated care pathway. Our focus is on early detection, precision diagnostics and treatment approaches that preserve both outcomes and quality of life.”
Sounding a crucial public health alert, Ms S Niranjani, Chief Operating Officer and Hospital Head, said: “Breast cancer remains a major public health concern, with one in 28 Indian women at risk of developing the disease. Nearly 60 percent of cases in India are diagnosed at a later stage, while incidence is rising among younger urban women. With early detection, survival can exceed 90 percent, and Sakhi has been designed to enable timely screening, faster diagnosis and integrated breast care.”
Integrated Care Model Aims to Reduce Mortality and Improve Outcomes
Emphasising the scale of the challenge, R Y Bharath Kanth Reddy, Chief Executive Officer, Chennai and Hyderabad Cluster, stated: “Breast cancer continues to represent a significant and growing healthcare burden, with close to 200,000 new cases and nearly 100,000 deaths reported annually in India. The launch of Sakhi reflects our focus on building specialised centres that respond to this need through integrated care models. By bringing screening, diagnostics and treatment together, we aim to improve early detection, treatment timelines and overall patient outcomes.”
Reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to women’s health, Anil Vinayak, Group COO, Fortis Healthcare, added: “The launch of the Sakhi Comprehensive Breast Care Clinic at Gleneagles Hospital Chennai embodies this approach — bringing together advanced technology, integrated multidisciplinary care, and compassionate support for women across every stage of their breast health journey. Our aim is to make high-quality, timely and personalised breast care more accessible, empowering women through awareness and early detection.”
Advanced Oncology Team Brings Precision, Personalisation and Hope
Specialists at Sakhi highlighted several advanced treatment innovations:
- Dr Sunitha Jayarani, Consultant Breast Oncologist, emphasised the clinic’s one-day, one-stop evaluation model, reducing anxiety and delays.
- Dr N.S. Vimaladittan, Clinical Lead, Surgical Oncology, elaborated on breast conservation techniques preserving body image and confidence.
- Dr Azmi Saundarya, Clinical Lead, Radiation Oncology, highlighted short-course five-day radiation therapy, improving convenience and outcomes.
- Dr Arun Ramanan, Clinical Lead, Medical Oncology, noted that AI-based molecular testing enables chemotherapy-free treatment options for select patients, reducing treatment burden.
Empowering Women Through Awareness, Access, and Early Action
Beyond clinical care, Sakhi is actively conducting screening programmes for underserved communities, helping women detect breast conditions early and seek timely intervention.
With breast cancer incidence rising, especially among younger urban women, Sakhi’s integrated, affordable, and compassionate approach marks a transformative shift in how breast care is delivered — empowering women to take control of their health and futures.
