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Cancer is one of the leading health challenges in India, and Kolkata has become a vital hub for cancer treatment. Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), popularly known as Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital in Kolkata, is among the most trusted names when it comes to oncology care. Established with a mission to serve cancer patients across Eastern India, CNCI has emerged as a Top Hospital in Kolkata. With decades of experience, world-class doctors, and cutting-edge facilities, it continues to be a beacon of hope for thousands.
Whether you are searching for a good hospital in Kolkata or exploring the Kolkata hospital list for oncology treatment, CNCI is likely to appear at the top. This blog presents a complete overview of the hospital, including its facilities, expert doctors, timings, and more. If you are looking for the Top 10 Hospital in Kolkata or the biggest hospital in Kolkata focused on cancer treatment, this guide will be extremely helpful.
About Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital
Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute is a government-aided institute dedicated to cancer research, education, and treatment. The institute was established in 1950 in memory of the freedom fighter Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das. Over the years, it has grown in stature and scope, adding a wide range of services, research facilities, and patient care departments.
The hospital not only provides advanced cancer treatment but also contributes significantly to cancer awareness and prevention campaigns. It’s considered one of the best in the Top 10 hospital in Kolkata list, particularly for oncology care. With affordable care, trained specialists, and state-of-the-art diagnostic labs, it competes with any Big Hospital in Kolkata.
Hospital Details
- Address
Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital (Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute)
37, S.P. Mukherjee Road,
Kolkata – 700026, West Bengal, India - Contact Number
+91‑33‑2476‑7531 / +91‑33‑2476‑7532 - Visiting / Doctor’s Timings
- Outpatient departments (OPD) typically run: Monday–Saturday, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Emergency and inpatient services operate 24/7
- Scheduled appointments for chemotherapy and radiation therapy vary by unit—usually during morning shifts
- Hospital Size & Structure
- Over 1,000 beds, including dedicated wards for pediatric oncology, gynaecologic, head & neck, and palliative care
- Multiple operating theatres, radiation bunkers, and specialty units
- Nursing staff, paramedics, dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers—all play vital roles
CNCI stands tall among the Kolkata Hospital list as a specialized public institute focused solely on oncology.
History & Legacy
CNCI traces its roots to the old Cancer Centre set up in the early 1950s. Officially inaugurated in 1952, it became the first government cancer hospital outside Delhi. Over decades, it expanded in phases, adding sub-specialties like Haemato‑Oncology, Paediatric Oncology, Orthopaedic Oncology, and Head & Neck oncology. The institute gained National Cancer Institute status in 2020. It leads regional cancer research, publishes guidelines, hosts national oncology conferences, and participates in multicentric trials.
Through the years, CNCI has led mass screening drives, awareness campaigns, tobacco cessation programs, and rehabilitation initiatives. It works closely with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Cancer Grid to spread standardized protocols.
Education, Training & Research
CNCI holds an academic affiliation with West Bengal University of Health Sciences. It offers structured programs:
| Program | Duration | Intake |
| DNB (Radiotherapy) | 3 years | 4/year |
| DNB (Medical Oncology) | 3 years | 3/year |
| MD (Radiotherapy) | 3 years | 2/year |
| Fellowship Programs | 1 year/unit | Variable |
| PhD & MD‑PhD Research | 3–5 years | Varies |
Physicians, surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and healthcare workers train here under a structured curriculum. Collaboration with institutions like AIIMS Delhi, PGI Chandigarh, and Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai enables faculty and fellow exchanges. CNCI faculty regularly publish in journals such as Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics and Indian Journal of Cancer. Funding often comes from ICMR, DBT, and DST.
Areas of Expertise
Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital offers comprehensive services across cancer diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and research. They include:
1. Medical Oncology
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Management of blood cancers
2. Radiation Oncology
- External beam therapies (3D‑CRT, IMRT, VMAT)
- Brachytherapy for cervix, prostate, head & neck
3. Surgical Oncology
- General surgical oncology (breast, colon, oesophagus)
- Gynaecologic oncology
- Paediatric oncology surgery
- Head & Neck, Ocular, Orthopaedic, Thoracic, and Thoracolumbar spine specialties
4. Paediatric Oncology
Dedicated wards for children with solid tumours and haematological malignancies, with skilled paediatric oncologists, psychologists, physiotherapists, play therapists, and dedicated nurses.
5. Haematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT)
Facilities for autologous and selected allogeneic transplants with HEPA‑filtered units, cryopreservation, and transfusion support.
6. Diagnostic & Imaging Services
- PET‑CT, MRI, CT, Mammograms
- Path labs with a range of markers
- Molecular labs for BRCA, EGFR, BRAF testing
7. Supportive & Palliative Care
Pain management, nutritional counseling, social support, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, psychology, and hospice care.
8. Preventive Programs
Tobacco cessations clinics, HPV vaccination awareness, early detection camps, seminars, school outreach.
Key Doctors & Their Profiles
To offer a detailed insight, here are distinguished CNCI specialists and their qualifications:
Prof. (Dr.) Arghya Sukul – Director & Head, Medical Oncology
- Education: MBBS, MD; Senior Fellowship in Onco‑Haematology (USA)
- Expertise: Leukemia, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, research trials
- Experience: 22+ years; published 60+ papers; national and international leadership roles
Dr. Sabyasachi Pattanayak – Head, Radiation Oncology
- Education: MBBS, MD (R&R); Training in Image‑Guided Radiotherapy
- Expertise: Head & neck, breast, lung cancer
- Experience: 18+ years; pioneered IMRT services; faculty at conferences
Dr. Mitali Chatterjee – Head, Paediatric Oncology
- Education: MBBS, MD (Paediatrics); Fellowship (Pediatric Oncology, UK)
- Expertise: Childhood leukemia, solid tumours, supportive care
- Experience: 15 years; childhood cancer camps; community outreach
Dr. Tapan Kumar Ghosh – Head, Surgical Oncology
- Education: MBBS, MS (General Surgery); Fellowships in Breast Oncology
- Expertise: Breast, colorectal, head & neck, laparoscopic oncology
- Experience: 20 years; first laparoscopic cancer surgeries at CNCI
Dr. Ruchi Lahiri – Consultant, Palliative Medicine
- Education: MD (Anaesthesia); Fellowship (Palliative Care, Australia)
- Expertise: Pain control, end‑of‑life care, counselling, home hospice
- Experience: 12 years; ran palliative clinics in eastern India
This multidisciplinary team is supported by pathologists, radiologists, critical care specialists, dietitians, physiotherapists, counsellors, social workers and nursing staff.
Facilities & Infrastructure
CNCI boasts an advanced campus with multiple blocks:
- OPD wings for each oncology discipline
- Indoor wards split by specialty
- Day‑care Chemo wards for outpatient cycles
- Modern OT suites for robotic, laparoscopic, and open surgeries
- Radiation bunkers with High‑Energy LINACs, CT‑Simulator, Brachytherapy
- ICU & HCT units (HEPA filtered)
- Diagnostic section: 128-slice CT, 1.5 T MRI, digital mammograms, PET‑CT, Bone Densitometry
- Multimodality labs: pathology, microbiology, cytogenetics, molecular, immunohistochemistry, tumour markers
- Supportive services: Psych oncology unit, social welfare, diet, physiotherapy
- Rehabilitation & follow-up clinics
Research, Collaborations & Innovation
CNCI actively contributes to:
- Multicenter clinical trials in haematological and solid tumour settings
- Basic science labs for tumour biology, genomics, immunotherapy
- Pharmaceutical partnerships for new drug testing
- Publication pipeline: >100 papers in medical/oncology peer-reviewed journals
- Lectures, training, and exchange programs nationally and internationally
- National Cancer Grid membership—sharing data and standardizing protocols
Patient Care Experience
CNCI focuses on patient welfare through:
- Transparent pricing and financial counselling
- Schemes for the poor and underprivileged
- Accommodation for attendants
- Diet planning during treatment
- Psycho-social support and rehabilitative physiotherapy
- Follow-up clinics with long-term survivorship care
- Telemedicine for remote consultations
Awards & Recognition
- Accredited by NABH
- Recognized as a National Cancer Institute under MoHFW
- Awards for public health outreach, tobacco cessation, and research
- Faculty invited to speak at national/international forums
Challenges & Future Plans
CNCI aims to expand oncology services, research, facilities, and telemedicine. Plans include national/international collaborations to become a fully integrated cancer institute.
10 FAQs
- What makes CNCI one of the “Big Hospital in Kolkata”?
It offers comprehensive cancer services—screening, diagnosis, all treatments—under one roof with over 1,000 beds. - Where is the hospital located?
37 S.P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata – 700026, near Esplanade. - How can I book an appointment?
Walk‑in OPD is available 8 AM‑1 PM Mon–Sat; pre‑booked appointments for chemo/radiation require a referral from CNCI or other hospitals. - Who treats children at CNCI?
Dr. Mitali Chatterjee and her team handle paediatric oncology at the dedicated children’s wing. - Is it a government or private facility?
It remains a public cancer institute under national governance, while cooperating with both public and private partners. - Are international protocols used?
Yes. CNCI aligns with ICMR, NCCN, ASCO, and ESMO standards and leads national trials. - Is palliative care offered?
Yes. Dr. Ruchi Lahiri leads a palliative unit offering pain relief, counselling, home‑care, and hospice. - Does it offer stem‑cell transplant?
Yes. It provides autologous and select allogeneic transplants in specialized HCT units. - Are financial aid schemes available?
CNCI plus affiliated NGOs offer subsidised treatment and need-based support. - Is this hospital in the top 10 hospital in Kolkata list?
Yes. It ranks among the Top 10 Hospital in Kolkata list for specialized cancer care and is often listed in Kolkata Hospital list summaries on state/cancer boards.
Conclusion
Chittaranjan Cancer Hospital in Kolkata stands as a beacon in oncology, offering complete cancer care from prevention to palliative support. As one of the Top Hospital in Kolkata, it fits any Top 10 Hospital in Kolkata ranking, and it certainly qualifies among the Good Hospital in Kolkata candidates due to its infrastructure, expertise, and service. Whether you search for the Biggest Hospital in Kolkata, a Private Hospital in Kolkata partner, or top cancer treatment in eastern India, CNCI offers world-standard medical care without high cost. The institute continues to innovate, grow, and transform lives affected by cancer every single day.