Cancer Patients to Get Free Natural Human Hair Wigs Under New Partnership
Chennai: Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) and The Cherian Foundation have joined hands to improve access to free natural human hair wigs for economically disadvantaged cancer patients across India.
The partnership has been formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Under the agreement, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, will coordinate the receipt and distribution of wigs across the Tata Memorial Centre network.
As part of the initial initiative, The Cherian Foundation will donate 500 premium natural human hair wigs worth ₹1.5 crore through its Gift Hair Gift Confidence (GHGC) programme. The wigs have been allocated based on the requirements of participating Tata Memorial Centre facilities.
1,000 Wigs to Be Donated Every Year
The Cherian Foundation has also committed to manufacturing and donating 1,000 premium natural human hair wigs annually through the initiative. Distribution will be based on patient requirements across the foundation’s partner hospital network, including Tata Memorial Centre.
Hair loss is a common and visible side effect of cancer treatment and can affect patients’ confidence and emotional well-being. Since premium natural human hair wigs are generally not covered by health insurance, their cost can be a challenge for many families.
The partnership seeks to make such wigs more accessible as part of supportive cancer care.
Over 2,500 Wigs Distributed Since 2014
The Gift Hair Gift Confidence initiative was launched in 2014 and covers the process of collecting donated hair, manufacturing wigs, quality checks, free distribution, refurbishment and recipient support.
According to The Cherian Foundation, the initiative has so far received contributions from 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 latest partnership is expected to support the organisations’ plans to expand hospital-based access to wigs for cancer patients and strengthen supportive care beyond medical treatment.