Tirupati: Seven-year-old brain tumour patient completes radiotherapy at SVIMS free of cost
Tirupati, Sept 11 (TNT): Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), Tirupati, has successfully completed advanced radiotherapy for a seven-year-old boy suffering from a brain tumour without imposing any additional financial burden on his economically disadvantaged family.
The child, Deekshith, son of Maheshwari and Saravana of Kuppam mandal in Chittoor district, successfully completed all 25 prescribed fractions of radiotherapy at the Department of Radiation Oncology, SVIMS.
Deekshith had developed severe headaches about three months ago and was initially treated at hospitals in Kuppam, the institute said in a release here on Friday.
As the cause of his symptoms could not be identified, his parents subsequently took him to a private hospital in Bengaluru, where investigations revealed that he was suffering from ependymoma, a brain tumour.
The family later approached SVIMS, where the child was admitted to the Department of Radiation Oncology on July 23, 2026.
Following a comprehensive clinical evaluation, the medical team planned and initiated the required radiotherapy.
Financial assistance of up to Rs 1.50 lakh was sanctioned for the treatment through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).
As the total cost of the treatment exceeded Rs 2 lakh and the family was unable to bear the additional expense, SVIMS extended further assistance under the Sri Venkateswara Pranadanam Scheme.
This enabled the child to complete the prescribed 25-fraction radiotherapy course without any additional financial burden on his parents.
SVIMS Director and Vice-Chancellor Dr Gudaru Jagadish said financial hardship should never prevent poor patients from accessing essential or life-saving treatment.
“No poor patient should be deprived of essential or life-saving medical treatment merely because of financial hardship. Particularly when the life and future of a child are involved, lack of money should never become an obstacle to receiving appropriate treatment,” he said.
He said SVIMS was committed to effectively utilising government assistance programmes and schemes such as Sri Venkateswara Pranadanam to ensure advanced medical care reached eligible poor and needy patients.
“At SVIMS, healthcare is not merely about treating a disease. It is also about standing beside the patient and the family during their most difficult moments and giving them hope and confidence,” Dr Jagadish said.
He congratulated the Radiation Oncology team, including doctors, medical physicists, radiotherapy technologists, nursing personnel and supporting staff, for their coordinated efforts in completing the child’s treatment.
The parents expressed gratitude to the SVIMS administration and medical team for supporting their family and ensuring that their son received the required treatment despite their financial difficulties.
The treatment team comprised Prof Dr Pranabandhu Das, Dr B Srinivasa Rao, Associate Professor, Dr S A Raja, Assistant Professor, Dr T Charishma, Dr B Priya, Dr S Balaraju, Chief Medical Physicist, and V Yadagiri, Chief Radiotherapy Technologist, besides nursing and supporting staff.
SVIMS said the case demonstrated its commitment to making advanced and specialised medical treatment accessible to poor and economically disadvantaged patients through government welfare schemes, the Sri Venkateswara Pranadanam Scheme and institutional support.
TNT LE
