I Stand Here Not as an Actor or Public Representative, But as a Son – Nandamuri Balakrishna

Speaking at a special event held on Monday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital, Chairman Nandamuri Balakrishna said, “Today, I stand before you not as an actor or a public representative, but as a son.” He recalled the difficult days when his mother, Basavatarakam Nandamuri, was battling cancer and explained the vision behind the establishment of the hospital.Balakrishna said that when his mother was undergoing cancer treatment in 1984, their family had the financial means to access quality healthcare. However, she was deeply concerned about the countless underprivileged patients who could not afford treatment. He recalled her asking a simple yet profound question: “We can afford treatment, but what about the poor?” According to him, that question became the foundation of a much larger mission.

He noted that his father, Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, accepted this concern as a responsibility and laid the foundation for the institution in 1989 with the vision that no one should be denied cancer treatment because of financial hardship.Balakrishna highlighted that the hospital, inaugurated in 2000 by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and then Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has grown into a world-class healthcare institution with 650 beds. He stated that the hospital now performs 35 to 40 complex surgeries every day, provides chemotherapy to more than 200 patients daily, and delivers radiation therapy services to nearly 500 patients. So far, more than 375,000 patients have received treatment at the facility.

Acknowledging the impact of government healthcare schemes such as Aarogyasri and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Balakrishna said these initiatives have saved countless lives. He expressed gratitude to successive governments of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for their continued support.

He also thanked corporate organizations, overseas Telugu associations such as Telugu Association of North America and North America Telugu Society, donors, and well-wishers for their invaluable contributions.Praising the hospital’s doctors, nurses, and staff, he said they are not merely performing jobs but carrying the responsibility of saving lives.Looking ahead, Balakrishna announced plans to build another world-class cancer hospital with 1,000 beds in Amaravati, while also expanding the existing facility in Hyderabad. He reaffirmed that the mission inspired by his parents will continue until no cancer patient is forced to return home without treatment due to a lack of financial resources.