Everhope Oncology, a joint venture between Narayana Health and a venture capital firm, has secured $10 million in seed funding to establish cancer care facilities in Delhi and Mumbai. The company plans to expand to 10 cities within the next three years.

This funding marks the largest healthcare seed round in the past 24 months. The new medical and surgical cancer centers will offer comprehensive services, including diagnosis, treatment, chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and palliative care for cancer patients.

India’s oncologists are overwhelmed, with just one specialist for every 2,000 cancer patients, compared to one for every 100 patients in the U.S. This shortage leads to reduced time per patient, heightened anxiety, and burnout among doctors. On top of this, limited access to affordable diagnostics and treatments, along with the stigma surrounding cancer, causes over 60% of cases to be diagnosed late, resulting in higher mortality rates.

“The rapid rise in cancer incidence is a growing health crisis in India. Today, an estimated 8 million Indians live with cancer, and projections suggest that one in nine will develop the disease in their lifetime,” the company said. However, India’s healthcare infrastructure struggles to keep pace with this rising burden.

Everhope Oncology aims to tackle these challenges by setting up dedicated chemotherapy and specialized surgical centers. These centers will offer a modern, comfortable, and infection-free environment with personalized care, shorter wait times, and improved patient experience. In collaboration with Narayana Health, a clinical board of experienced oncologists will follow globally validated protocols to deliver top-tier clinical outcomes. Everhope will also provide comprehensive services, including mental health counseling, nutritional consultations, pain management, and a 24/7 care concierge service to assist patients during their treatment journey.

Viren Shetty, vice-chairman of Narayana Health, said, “Most people visualize cancer treatment as thin and frail people stuck with hundreds of tubes, walking from one crowded hospital room to another. This is why most of us avoid cancer screening and seek out non-scientific treatment options. We want to change the common misperceptions of curing cancer. Globally, most cancer therapies—chemotherapy, surgery, palliative care, radiation, and consultations—are conducted in comfortable, dedicated spaces in retail locations far away from hospitals. With Everhope, we aim to provide patients with best-in-class onco-therapies in comfortable suites near their homes, where they can get treated in a crowd-free environment and go about the rest of their day.”

Pankaj Jethwani, managing partner at W Health Ventures, said, “As we work towards solving pressing healthcare issues, our collaboration with Narayana Health marks a significant step forward. Globally, cancer care has seen remarkable innovation—from daycare chemotherapy infusion centers to advanced diagnostics for early detection and breakthrough therapies like CAR-T. With Everhope, we aim to drive oncology innovation in India, working alongside entrepreneurial oncologists eager to become business owners.”

Cancer care has become one of the fastest-growing specialties in multi-specialty hospitals, with significant potential for dedicated cancer facilities. Rising patient numbers fuel this growth, the economic viability of single-specialty oncology centers, increasing entrepreneurial ambitions among oncologists, and greater patient awareness of treatment options.