BENGALURU, Sep 21 : The Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Karnataka is preparing to introduce free immunotherapy for cancer patients as part of an expansion of its medical services. The institute, located at Muddenahalli in Chikkaballapur district near Bengaluru, is also set to open a new 600-bed hospital on its campus in the coming weeks.
The initiative is expected to increase access to advanced cancer treatment for patients who may otherwise find specialised therapies financially difficult to afford. The institute’s existing hospital has 320 beds and provides treatment without charge, while the additional facility will significantly increase its capacity to serve patients.
Immunotherapy is a form of cancer treatment that works by helping the body’s immune system recognise and respond to cancer cells. Its growing use has added another option to the range of treatments available for several forms of cancer, alongside approaches such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
The institute’s expansion comes as healthcare providers and policymakers continue to focus on making specialised treatment available beyond major metropolitan hospitals. Advanced cancer care can involve substantial expenses, particularly when patients require prolonged treatment, specialised diagnostics or newer therapies.
According to reports on the institute’s plans, genomics-based treatment has already been initiated at the facility, while work is also being undertaken in the area of rare-disease research. The organisation has additionally highlighted free paediatric healthcare and nutrition programmes as part of its wider healthcare activities.
The planned hospital expansion is expected to provide additional space for medical services and help accommodate a larger number of patients. The institute operates under the One World One Family Mission led by Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai and has positioned free healthcare as a central part of its service model.
The move towards free immunotherapy is significant because cancer treatment has increasingly incorporated targeted and immune-based approaches. However, access to such therapies depends on clinical suitability, medical evaluation and the availability of appropriate infrastructure and specialist teams.
The institute’s announcement also reflects a broader shift in Indian healthcare towards combining advanced medical technology with efforts to reduce financial barriers for patients. As cancer cases require treatment at different stages and levels of complexity, hospitals capable of providing specialised services can play an important role in reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for care.
The new 600-bed facility is therefore expected to strengthen the institute’s ability to provide a wider range of services under one healthcare system. Its launch could also support the organisation’s ongoing work in paediatric care, rare diseases and other specialised medical fields.
For patients, the introduction of free immunotherapy could provide another treatment avenue at a time when affordability remains an important consideration in cancer care. The institute’s plans place particular emphasis on expanding access to advanced treatment while continuing its existing model of free medical services.
The development comes as India’s healthcare sector continues to invest in specialised hospitals, medical technology and new treatment models. The Karnataka institute’s expansion combines increased hospital capacity with plans for advanced cancer therapy, potentially broadening the range of services available to patients in the region.