Hyderabad-based Grace Cancer Foundation (GCF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Meghalaya, with the partnership also extending to Tripura, to launch large-scale free cancer screening programmes across underserved regions of Northeast India.
The initiative aims to strengthen early cancer detection, awareness and access to timely care in remote and high-need communities.
The collaboration enables GCF to expand its established cancer screening model, known as the GCF-WAY Model, into Meghalaya and Tripura. The programme includes community-level awareness campaigns, free screening drives, patient counselling, referral support for treatment, post-diagnosis rehabilitation and research-driven data collection to improve regional cancer outcomes.
The MoU was announced on World Cancer Day, February 4, 2026, during the second Meghalaya Cancer Conclave held in Shillong. The rollout aligns with the state government’s Meghalaya Mission for Cancer Prevention and Early Detection, which focuses on shifting healthcare delivery from reactive cancer treatment to proactive prevention. The state initiative incorporates lifestyle-based interventions, public awareness programmes, HPV testing for cervical cancer prevention and digital tools such as a mobile cancer screening application.
Under the expanded programme, GCF plans to conduct cancer screening across remote and underserved populations in the Northeast, addressing long-standing gaps in preventive oncology services. The expansion follows a growing demand for the Foundation’s screening initiatives and an appeal from the Telangana Governor to extend its services to the Northeast region.
In 2025, Grace Cancer Foundation screened more than 61,000 individuals nationwide, resulting in the early detection of over 1,000 cancer cases. For 2026, the organisation has set a target of conducting more than one lakh cancer screenings across India, with Meghalaya and Tripura identified as priority regions.
Over more than 12 years of operations, GCF has reached nearly 1.4 crore people through its outreach and awareness programmes, focusing on improving access to quality cancer care, particularly for populations with limited access to preventive healthcare.
The partnership with the Meghalaya government is expected to significantly strengthen regional efforts to reduce cancer burden through early diagnosis and timely intervention.
