Top 10 NGOs & Patient Support Groups That Went Above and Beyond in 2025 showcases healthcare organizations and communities that have made extraordinary contributions to patient care and wellbeing. Through dedication, innovation, and compassion, they have enhanced healthcare access, raised critical awareness, and offered essential support to patients and families. By strengthening treatment journeys and fostering resilience, these groups have made 2025 a year of meaningful impact on countless lives.
Smile Foundation delivers extensive healthcare services to underserved communities across India through a mix of mobile clinics, telemedicine projects, static clinics and multi-specialty health camps; benefitting millions of people with affordable primary medical care.
From the cold deserts of Ladakh to the peninsular tip of Tamil Nadu, from the river islands of the Brahmaputra to the arid landscapes of Rajasthan, the programme ensures healthcare access across some of the country’s most challenging terrains.
Under its Smile on Wheels initiative, fully equipped mobile medical units staffed with doctors and paramedics provide free outpatient consultations, point of care diagnostics, medicines and health education directly at the doorstep in remote villages and urban clusters. During the FY 2024–25, these mobile units operated across more than 90 districts in 22 states, benefiting around 2 million (20 lakh) individuals.
In order to further bridge the specialist care gaps, Mobile Telemedicine Units connect rural patients with doctors for specialized consultations and significantly reducing travel burden and out of pocketcosts. Complementing this Smile Foundation also operates static physiotherapy clinics focused on continuous OPD consultations and physiotherapy services, besides multi-specialty health camps. The foundation integrates technology such as telemedicine solutions and portable diagnostic systems to enhance care quality.
Innovative models such as Smile on Boat (SoB) extend primary healthcare to the riverine island communities of the Brahmaputra, ensuring services reach even the most geographically isolated populations.
Smile Foundation complements public health infrastructure by training frontline workers and aligning with national priorities like Ayushman Bharat and the National Digital Health Mission. Its healthcare work has been recognised with the CSR Health Project of the Year Award, affirming its role in expanding primary and preventive healthcare for millions across India.
Thalassemics India is a national non-governmental organisation dedicated to supporting people living with thalassemia through comprehensive treatment assistance, awareness generation, screening, and community empowerment. Established in 1987, the organisation works in close collaboration with doctors, hospitals, blood banks, the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), corporates, the Thalassaemia International Federation, Rotary, and policymakers to improve access to quality care and reduce the disease burden across India.
Its key projects include Helping Hands, under which free iron chelation medicines, blood leucocyte filters, and investigations are provided to underprivileged patients to ensure continuity of life-saving treatment; KAAMNA – Thalassemia Mukt Bharat, which focuses on nationwide awareness and screening through camps, educational sessions, round table meetings, and counselling to promote early diagnosis and prevention; and Spreading Smiles, which focuses on psychosocial support and community engagement for patients and their families, fostering resilience, inclusion, and emotional well-being, and encouraging patients to share their concerns through multiple activities.
Over the years, Thalassemics India and its executive members have played a significant role in strengthening thalassemia care at the national level, including the establishment of a NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing) Lab at IRCS New Delhi to provide NAT-tested blood free of cost to all registered thalassemia major patients with CSR support, the establishment of a Thalassemia Screening and Counselling Centre at IRCS New Delhi running successfully since 2020, advocacy support for the revision of the 2016 National Health Mission guidelines, facilitation of UDID cards for patients with thalassemia, and support for printing over 600 copies of the IAP–PHO Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Thalassemia (August 2023).
The organisation has also been coordinating the Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojana – HSCT Project since 2017, a unique initiative supported by Coal India Limited under its CSR programme and implemented under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, providing financial support of Rs 10 lakhs to eligible underprivileged children with thalassemia and aplastic anaemia, and supports deserving thalassemics through scholarships of up to Rs 1 lakh per candidate under the project “Empowering Thalassemia Warriors.
Organization for Rare Diseases India (ORDI) is a Section 8 non-profit established in 2014, dedicated to addressing the full spectrum of challenges faced by rare disease patients. As a national thought leader and advocacy body, ORDI brings together patients, clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders on a common platform.
Vision is a better life for people with rare diseases in India.
Mission is to be the strong, united voice for all rare diseases in India and ensure equity in access, resources, and opportunities for people living with rare diseases.
Key milestones and contributions include early recognition and public education through conducting Race for 7, India’s largest rare disease awareness movement, running weekly Rare Info Series webinars for clinicians, caregivers, pharma, and advocacy groups, and engaging with the general public, schools, workplaces, and digital communities; reducing the diagnostic delay through referral pathways to specialist hospitals, collaboration with diagnostic labs, genetic centres, and researchers, and public policy advocacy leading to establishment of COEs; access, navigation and policy support through advocacy contribution to the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD) and supporting patients in accessing treatments, clinical trials, compassionate access programs, and partnering with hospitals for multidisciplinary care pathways; and long-term, holistic, lifelong support through psychosocial counselling, physiotherapy and rehabilitation support, assistive devices and respiratory support programs.
Unlike common disorders, rare diseases constantly require integrated, continuous, and highly specialised navigation as they continue to struggle at every stage, awareness, diagnosis, treatment, and lifelong management. To bridge this critical gap, ORDI has built a Rare Disease Care Coordination Platform, a structured, end-to-end ecosystem that guides patients from the very first symptoms through diagnosis, treatment access, rehabilitation support, and long-term care.
Set of projects under the Care Coordination Platform:
Awareness through Rare Info Series and Knowledge Repository as a national digital education platform for clinicians, caregivers, and the public, awareness webinars annually, CME sessions for HCPs, open-access repository of videos, tools, FAQs, glossaries, advocacy and educational outreach modules, with the outcome of improved early diagnosis and stronger clinical knowledge nationwide; Diagnosis through the Rare Diseases Telemedicine Clinic with teleconsultations by rare disease specialists, EMR-linked patient tracking, multilingual patient coordinators, referrals to COEs and clinical trials, with the outcome of early diagnosis and reduced diagnostic delay for families; Treatment through treatment access to long-term care including treatment access and multidisciplinary care coordination, monitoring and follow-up, multidisciplinary medical camps, caregiver training, with the outcome of lifesaving support for children; Management through a Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre for Rare Diseases including physiotherapy mobility programs, assistive devices and functional assessments, Bipap machines and Cough Assist Devices, community-based rehab models and an app, counselling, training and caregiver support, follow-up respiratory monitoring, patient advocacy group trainings, with outcomes of improved mobility, reduced complications, reduced hospitalisations, prevention of respiratory collapse, better quality of life for children and adults, and a much more knowledgeable advocacy group ecosystem; and Rare Disease Medical Transport providing lifesaving, medically equipped transport and free or subsidised support for low-income families, with the outcome of immediate emergency care for critically vulnerable patients.
The National Alliance of Sickle Cell Organizations (NASCO) is India’s first voluntary national network of patient advocate groups dedicated to educating and empowering individuals affected by sickle cell disease (SCD) and their caregivers. NASCO works to increase awareness of SCD, promote early detection and advocate for improved quality of life and care access for patients nationwide. In 2025, NASCO amplified its impact through community mobilisation and awareness campaigns, particularly around World Sickle Cell Awareness Day on June 19, aligning with the global theme of “Global Action, Local Impact” to boost early diagnosis, self-advocacy and grassroots engagement.
NASCO contributed to policy dialogue aimed at improving screening, care pathways and support systems for people living with SCD. By partnering with healthcare professionals and community groups, the alliance helped strengthen patient networks and expand outreach into tribal and high-burden areas, supporting national efforts under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission where millions have been screened and significant numbers of patients and carriers identified.
Throughout this year 2025, NASCO was directly involved in various Sickle Cell program across the world through several important engagements. NASCO was invited as trainer in the "National Training of the Trainers for Sickle Cell Anemia on Awareness Generation and Councelling" held on 21 - 22 January 2025 at Kaushal Bhawan New Delhi, organised by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, GOI. It actively participated in the meeting of National Disability Network (NDN) & National Committee of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (NCRPD) at New Delhi on 21st March 2025. It also contributed and participated in the inauguration of countries first Sickle Cell Wellness Hub at RNT medical College, Udaipur, Rajasthan on 29 March 2025. NASCO's Madhya Pradesh member Ms Swati, SCD warrior met to the Hon. Prime Minister of India Sh Narendra Modi Ji at Bhopal on June 2025.
Secretary of NASCO was invited in the 5th Global Congress on Sickle Cell Disease at Abuja, Nigeria, Africa on 3 - 6 June 2025 and strongly represented SCD patients perspectives of India. Moreover, the Secretary was a speaker in 13th International Conference on Ethics Education on 12 June 2025 at St John's National Academy of Health Services, Bangalore.
He was also a speaker in World Sickle Cell Day webinar organised by Global Alliance of Sickle Cell Organisations (GASCDO) on 19 June 2025, where the theme was "Global Action, Local Impact: Empowering Communities for Effective Self Advocacy".
Ministry of Tribal Affairs GOI invited the Secretary of NASCO in AIIMS Delhi on 19 June 2025 on the occasion of World Sickle Cell Day program, where the Hon Minister of MoTA felicitated him.
NASCO was knowledge partner in the National Sickle Cell Summit organised by Hindustan Times at New Delhi in July 2025, where the Hon Minister of Tribal Affairs and the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare GOI were the chief guest. It also organised a Sickle Cell Mega Summit in Nagpur, Maharashtra on 16 August 2025 on the occasion of NASCO's 5th foundation day.
NASCO represented SCD patients perspectives in the program "National Stakeholders Consultation for SCD" organised by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare GOI on 30 July 2025 at NHSRC New Delhi.
As a speaker and SCD patients representative of India, the Secretary of NASCO was invited in Chicago, USA by the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) and GASCDO on 17 - 18 October 2025. CSIR-IGIB Delhi senior scientist invited team NASCO and SCD families at the Delhi laboratory to visit and understand the progressive research of Gene Therapy on 15 November 2025.
To educate and empower the sickle cell community, they have additionally been conducting online 7X7 monthly meetings and uploading SCD awareness videos on NASCO's YouTube channel regularly.
CanKids KidsCan is India’s largest and most comprehensive not-for-profit organisation dedicated exclusively to childhood cancer—working to ensure that no child is left behind simply because of where they are born or what they can afford.
Aligned with the World Health Organization’s 2030 goal of achieving at least 60% survival globally and universal access to care, CanKids envisions a future where 100% of children diagnosed with cancer in India have access to timely, quality treatment and holistic support.
Founded by cancer survivor Poonam Bagai, CanKids operates 141 hospital-based support units across 22 states and 58 cities, partnering with public and private hospitals, doctors, and state governments to strengthen systems of care and improve survival outcomes. Its integrated approach is built on a simple but powerful truth: nearly 95% of childhood cancers are curable—if children reach treatment on time and are supported through it.
“At CanKids, we believe cancer does not affect the body alone—it impacts the heart, mind, and soul of a child and their family,” says Poonam Bagai. “When a child is diagnosed, the first promise they need to hear is: You are not alone. Everything we do flows from that belief.”
This philosophy comes alive through CanKids’ flagship YANA (You Are Not Alone) programme, which supports children and families from diagnosis through treatment and follow-up. Services include funding for medical care, medicines and diagnostics, patient transport, blood support, nutrition, psychological counselling for both children and parents, continuity of education through hospital schools (CanShalas), and safe accommodation through Home Away From Home shelters—with free meals for families who travel long distances for treatment. These interventions significantly reduce treatment abandonment and improve survival, especially among underserved communities.
CanKids’ model goes beyond service delivery. It embeds the right to be heard, patient-centred care, and programmes shaped by patients’ lived experiences, ensuring that care pathways reflect real challenges faced by families navigating cancer.
Through formal MoUs with State governments, CanKids works closely with government hospitals and frontline health workers—including ASHAs and Anganwadi workers—to enable early detection, timely referral, and continuity of care at the grassroots level.
Importantly, survivorship is central to CanKids’ ecosystem. Many children who survive cancer—and even parents of treated children—go on to work with the organisation, forming a powerful Parent and Survivor Group. This lived-experience workforce guides newly diagnosed families, offering empathy, navigation support, and hope grounded in reality.
Through its uniquely integrated care-and-cure model, spanning clinical, psychosocial, educational, and policy interventions, CanKids is redefining childhood cancer care in India—proving that with access, affordability, quality treatment, and compassion, every child can survive, heal, and thrive.
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI) is a national non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting individuals affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). MSSI focuses on improving quality of life through diagnosis guidance, treatment support, awareness campaigns, and community education. Through specialized sessions, webinars, health camps, and consultations with leading experts, it bridges the gap between members and essential care from neurologists and therapists.
Its focus also extends to training caregivers and health professionals, ensuring a robust and informed support network for the community. MSSI leads systemic change through Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs at Indian Medical Association (IMA) branches in multiple locations across India, ensuring the medical fraternity in rural and semi-urban areas is aware of MS and its early symptoms. Furthermore, its strategic collaborations with Composite Regional Centres (CRCs) and various National Institutes for specialized awareness sessions have successfully sensitized government experts and professionals, cultivating a resilient and sensitised ecosystem of allies.
MSSI’s efforts continue to empower patients, enhance public awareness, and strengthen India’s healthcare ecosystem for multiple sclerosis.
Hemophilia Federation (India) (HFI) is the national umbrella organisation working for the welfare of people with hemophilia (PwH) and related bleeding disorders across India through a network of over 90 regional chapters nationwide.
HFI aims to enable “Hemophilia without disability, children free of pain” by expanding access to affordable treatment, advocacy, education and community support for affected individuals and families.
HFI’s programmes focus on treatment support, including ensuring access to anti‑hemophilic factor (CFC) therapies, specialised support for inhibitor patients and postoperative care, as well as carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis to facilitate early intervention and informed family planning. The federation also provides educational sponsorships and scholarships to help children with hemophilia pursue schooling and builds financial empowerment through microenterprise initiatives that enhance economic independence.
The organisation runs capacity building and communication workshops to equip community leaders and individuals with advocacy skills, and its Special Needs Cell offers assistance to PwH affected by HIV, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C.
HFI is actively affiliated with the World Federation of Hemophilia and collaborates with government bodies such as the National Health Mission to promote standardised hemophilia care and treatment guidelines.
Indian Cancer Society (ICS) is India’s first voluntary national organisation dedicated to cancer prevention, early detection, treatment support, and survivorship. ICS runs extensive programmes including awareness campaigns, community screening camps, financial aid through the Cancer Cure Fund, and survivor support, ensuring access to treatment for underprivileged patients.
The Society operates support groups and Cancer Jagriti initiatives, providing emotional, informational, and peer support, while its cancer registries in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur gather vital data to inform public health strategies. ICS also focuses on reintegration and rehabilitation for survivors, helping them resume normal life after treatment.
In 2025, ICS expanded its mobile screening and early detection camps, reaching thousands in underserved communities and increasing early diagnosis rates. Volunteers conducted extensive education on cancer risk factors, prevention, and lifestyle changes, and amplifying community engagement.
Through its combination of grassroots outreach, clinical support, data-driven interventions, and survivor programs, ICS continues to be a leading force in India’s fight against cancer, improving outcomes, raising awareness, and strengthening healthcare access for patients nationwide.
The Hans Foundation (THF) stood out as a leading force in India’s development sector, demonstrating how scale, empathy and systems thinking can drive lasting change in 2025. Founded in 2009, the Foundation has consistently focused on communities with limited access, with 2025 marking a significant expansion in reach, partnerships and programme depth.
The Foundation strengthened programme execution and public sector collaboration, scaling healthcare, disability inclusion and village development initiatives across multiple states. Efforts focused on integrating THF’s models with government systems, enabling wider adoption of inclusive healthcare and disability services through state-level partnerships.
Healthcare remained central through Mobile Medical Units, Hans Renal Care Centres and Hans Wellness Centres for Schools. Disability inclusion advanced via Mobile Therapy Buses, Child Development Centres and Project Unnati, while the Integrated Village Development Programme in Uttarakhand strengthened livelihoods and sustainability.
Strategic philanthropic backing and multi-year investments supported the rapid scale-up of healthcare infrastructure, disability services and climate resilience initiatives, ensuring operational stability and long-term impact.
LEPRA Society is a prominent Indian NGO dedicated to improving health outcomes and quality of life for people affected by leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases, with programmes that span 146 districts across 11 states reaching some of the most underserved and remote populations in the country.
Established in 1989, LEPRA Society partners with the National Leprosy Eradication Programme and state governments to strengthen early case detection, prevention of disabilities, rehabilitation, community awareness and advocacy against stigma and discrimination. Its network of 45 specialist health centres provides disability care, ulcer management, reconstructive surgery and socio‑economic support, while nurturing peer support groups that address both physical and emotional wellbeing.
In 2025, LEPRA Society’s impactful work has received national and international recognition. The organisation has been conferred the CSR Times Award for its sustained contributions to inclusive healthcare and social impact, followed by the prestigious Mahatma Award for Good Health and Well-Being, acknowledging its commitment to advancing equitable health outcomes for marginalised communities.
LEPRA Society was further honored with the World Health Organization South‑East Asia Regional Award for Public Health Champions in the institution category, recognizing its longstanding contribution to combating neglected diseases and advancing disability inclusion in public health.
Innovative programmes such as Project DiMPLE, which uses digital measurement technology to create customised protective footwear for people affected by leprosy, have improved mobility, reduced ulcers, and restored dignity for hundreds of patients.
LEPRA’s work also extends to tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and lymphatic filariasis, combining clinical services, research through the Blue Peter Public Health & Research Centre, training and community mobilisation to bridge gaps in care for marginalised groups.