Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) and The Cherian Foundation have entered into a partnership to improve access to premium natural human hair wigs for economically disadvantaged cancer patients across India.
Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU), Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, will serve as the nodal agency for receiving, coordinating and distributing wigs across the Tata Memorial Centre network. The framework will provide for equitable allocation, utilisation tracking and impact reporting.
As part of the partnership, The Cherian Foundation, through its Gift Hair Gift Confidence (GHGC) initiative, will donate 500 premium natural human hair wigs valued at ₹1.5 crore to TMC. The wigs have been pre-packaged and allocated according to patient requirements at participating centres to facilitate distribution.
The Foundation has also committed to manufacturing and donating 1,000 premium natural human hair wigs annually through GHGC. The wigs will be distributed according to patient needs across its partner hospital network, including TMC.
Addressing an overlooked need
Hair loss is among the most visible and emotionally challenging side effects of cancer treatment. Premium natural human hair wigs can help patients regain confidence and emotional well-being, but they are generally not covered by health insurance and can be unaffordable for many families.
The partnership aims to address this gap by making supportive cancer care more accessible, irrespective of patients’ financial circumstances.
Launched in 2014, Gift Hair Gift Confidence has mobilised more than 30,000 hair donors and provided over 2,500 premium natural human hair wigs free of cost through more than 35 partner hospitals across India. The initiative covers the entire process, from awareness and hair donation to wig manufacturing, quality assurance, free distribution and recipient support.
The Cherian Foundation Director Valsa Benjamin Cherian said the partnership reflects the Foundation’s belief that healthcare extends beyond medical treatment to restoring dignity, hope and quality of life.
The Cherian Foundation Executive Trustee Sara Cherian, a cancer survivor, said the initiative aims to ensure that no patient is denied the dignity and confidence that a premium natural human hair wig can provide because of an inability to afford one.
Raj Hair International CEO George B. Cherian,said the company would bring its expertise in craftsmanship and natural human hair products to manufacture the wigs, with a focus on quality, comfort and natural appearance.
The organisations said the partnership is intended to evolve into a long-term collaboration, with the broader vision of establishing hospital-based wig banks across India.