Tasmia Asif Cancer Hospital and Research Centre CIC
Our objectives
The TACHRC (Tasmia Asif Cancer Hospital and Research Centre CIC ) in the UK is established as a not for profit community interest company, set up to support this work, with the primary focus on the facilitation of training, with international staff visiting to Bangladesh, and Bangladesh medical professionals spending time in international institutions.
The objective of this CIC is to raise the levels of cancer care in Bangladesh, through the provision of facilities, equipment, knowledge sharing, training and research. Cancer is a major public health burden in Bangladesh, with an estimated 200,000 new cases diagnosed each year. The country has a population of over 160 million people, and the incidence of cancer is expected to increase in the coming years due to population growth and aging.
According to the World Health Organization, cancer is the leading cause of death among adults in Bangladesh, accounting for an estimated 13.5% of all deaths in 2020. The most common types of cancer in Bangladesh are breast cancer, lung cancer, and oral cancer. The survival rate for cancer patients in Bangladesh is low, with only 25% of patients surviving for five years after diagnosis. The main barriers to cancer care in Bangladesh include lack of awareness, lack of access to treatment facilities, and high costs of treatment. Despite the high prevalence of cancer, Bangladesh has a limited number of cancer treatment facilities. There is only one government-run cancer hospital in the country, and the private sector has not been able to meet the growing demand for cancer care.
Our activities
Dr Tasmia Tahmid, has been working in Bangladesh for last 13 years by providing Breast Cancer services through an outpatient and day care Breast clinic facility (Tasmia Tahmid Breast Care) in Lalmatia, Dhaka besides her regular job as a Bank Consultant Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth. This has made the difference in access to medical training clear to her between the different locations. Dr Tasmia has in this time a joint practice offering services for 1 week per month in Bangladesh and 3 weeks per month in the UK.
She is working on expansion the scale of her work to provide regular and sustainable clinical and academic services to Bangladesh.
It does this specifically by:
- Raising funds in support of the building, development and maintenance of the TACHRC hospital.
- Raising Funds to equip and maintain the TACHRC hospital.
- Supporting the improvement of Cancer Care across Bangladesh through the improvement of training, and care of patients.
- Support the training needs of medical staff across Bangladesh through training of medical professionals.
- Facilitate the rotation of staff from international facilities, and from Bangladesh to international institutions for the purpose of improving overall health care.
- Introduction and provision of screening services for a range of cancer services (on any site).
- The general improvement of medical and cancer services in Bangladesh.
- Appointment of members to the Board of the TACHRC Bangladesh Foundation Board.