Government Gold Hero Award:
Dr. VK Paul, Member of NITI Aayog – 

• For Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030, aligning with WHO’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) and our India Childhood Cancer Initiative (ICCI) & comprehensive treatment packages benefiting children with cancer and their families nationwide.
• For recognising NGOs like CanKids as crucial partners in achieving Care and UHC at grassroots levels.
• For formulating POSHAN Abhiyan, guiding critical nutrition management programs vital for children’s cancer treatment success.

Watch his acknowledgement film here. 

Watch the Ayushman Bharat for Kids with cancer film here.  – A testament to the government’s commitment to healthcare, parents of Arushii, Kavya & Vinit expressed gratitude for Ayushman Bharat Scheme that has positively impacted lives of 1000s of children with cancer at our Home away from Homes, our CanShalas, through our State Care Coordination Samanvay Kendras and most of our partnering hospitals, who are being able to avail PMJAY Ayushman Bharat…a huge step towards Universal Health Coverage in India.

Institutional Gold Hero Award:
AIIMS New Delhi Director, Dr. M Srinivas – 

• For the hospital registering and treating the largest number of children with cancer anywhere in the country
• For comprehensive pediatric oncology services in 3 departments – IRCH, Dept of Pediatrics POD & Dept Hematology, supported by ortho, ophthal, pediatric surgery and neuro services as well as paediatric HSCT services in 3 departments.
• For strong continuity of care services – survivorship services at IRCH under passport2Life and POD under C2S
• For continuity of care services – palliative care at IRCH Pain and Palliative care
• For significant research studies and projects that drive improved survival and other outcomes

Health Professional Gold Hero Award:
Dr. Santosh G. Honavar, Visionary Leader in Fight Retinoblastoma India – 

• 10 years ago your Vision 20-20 monograph showed the path to impacting RB treatment, care and support.
• The Fight RB India National Interest Group was set up on August 30th 2014 which has worked systematically over the last decade to drive survival & other outcomes for Children with retinoblastoma in India
• 55 Partnering Centers (Ophthalmology + Ocular Oncology + Pediatric Oncology) in Fight RB India Group are providing a network of treating centres with standard of care treatment and support Access to care for RB is 83% compared to the national average of 42%.
• “A prospective collaborative research for newly diagnosed Retinoblastoma patients in India INPHOG-RB-19-01“. closed recruitment in September 2023. Against the target of 630 patients 1120 patients were recruited in the multi-centre study across centres
• A majority of centres are using Sophisticated therapeutic interventions like brachytherapy, IAC and Genetic testing

Strategic Partner Gold Hero Award:
Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, Global Director at St. Jude – 

• For your extraordinary leadership. foresight and contribution and of your organization, St Jude Global to the WHO Global Initiative on Childhood Cancer, the CureALL technical framework that underpins this Initiative, the Lancet Commission on Sustainable Care for Children with Cancer – that has enabled childhood cancer to be a global priority, thereby providing the frameworks and the evidence -based research, making the investment case, and a significant push to our advocacy efforts for childhood cancer to be a child and health priority in India
• For your support, guidance, mentorship, and funding of the India Childhood Cancer Initiative launched on March 2023
• For the partnerships and alliances St Jude Global has with 6 institutions and 3 foundations across the country, including CanKids, which help to drive Change for Childhood Cancer across India