Cancer Treatment in India for Patients from Banjul, Gambia

Cancer Treatment in India for Patients from Banjul, Gambia

Gambia is a small country with a large healthcare problem. With a population of just over two million people and one major public teaching hospital — Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul — the capacity to treat complex conditions like cancer is limited in ways that matter enormously to patients who need more than basic care.

Oncology in Gambia is in its early stages. Basic chemotherapy is available. Straightforward surgical oncology is possible. But radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, proton treatment, bone marrow transplant — these do not exist in Gambia. For patients with cancer who need more than Banjul can offer, going abroad is not a preference. It is the only path.

The traditional destinations — Senegal, the UK, the US — carry their own problems. Language barriers in Senegal. Costs in the UK and US that put treatment out of reach for most Gambian families. India changes this picture. Advanced cancer care, in English, at 60 to 75 percent less than European private hospitals, with a workable flight connection from Banjul. For Gambian cancer patients, India has become the most realistic route to genuinely good treatment.

The Cancer Burden in Gambia

The Medical Research Council has done significant research on cancer in Gambia. Liver cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer are among the most common diagnoses. The burden of viral hepatitis B — a major driver of liver cancer — is high across West Africa. Cervical cancer remains common in part because HPV vaccination and screening programmes are still developing.

When a Gambian patient is diagnosed with a cancer that needs specialised treatment, the options in Banjul run out fast. No advanced radiotherapy. No immunotherapy protocols. No proton beam. No bone marrow transplant programme. The patient needs to go somewhere else, and the question is where that somewhere is.

Why India Works for Gambian Patients

1. The quality is real

India's top cancer hospitals — Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Max, Tata Memorial — operate to JCI-accredited international standards. Senior oncologists trained at UK and US institutions work here. The same protocols used in British cancer centres are used in these hospitals. The equipment is comparable.

2. The cost is accessible

Cancer treatment in India runs 60 to 75 percent cheaper than UK or US private care. Surgery plus six chemotherapy cycles for breast cancer at an Indian top-tier hospital costs a fraction of what the same treatment would cost in London.

3. English is the working language

Gambia is English-speaking. India's hospitals are English-speaking. This matters more than it gets credit for — communication between patient and doctor is clear throughout.

4. The route from Banjul is manageable

There are no direct flights from Banjul to India, but the connections are reasonable. Common routes include Banjul to Casablanca to Delhi via Royal Air Maroc and a connecting carrier; Banjul to Addis Ababa to Delhi via Ethiopian Airlines; or Banjul to Dubai to Delhi via Emirates. Total journey time is typically twelve to sixteen hours including connections. Prime Medical helps plan the travel route based on availability and the patient's condition.

What Cancer Treatments Are Available

Surgical oncology — the full range. Breast cancer surgery, cervical cancer surgery, colorectal resections, liver resections, lung surgery, thyroid surgery. Robotic-assisted surgery using the Da Vinci system at Apollo, Fortis, and Kokilaben allows minimally invasive approaches where appropriate, reducing recovery times.

Chemotherapy — standard and advanced protocols. For Gambian patients who may not have had access to optimal chemotherapy at home, India's oncology centres restart treatment on internationally approved protocols with full supportive care.

Radiation therapy — modern IMRT, VMAT, SBRT using precision techniques that significantly reduce side effects compared to older machines.

Proton therapy at Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai. Particularly valuable for brain tumours, skull base cancers, paediatric cancers, and spine tumours. It delivers radiation that stops precisely at the tumour, reducing dose to surrounding healthy tissue. For Gambian patients who need proton treatment, Apollo Chennai is the most accessible option outside Europe.

Immunotherapy — checkpoint inhibitors including pembrolizumab and nivolumab are available. For cancers that respond — certain lung cancers, melanoma, some liver cancers — these drugs change outcomes. India's hospitals prescribe and administer them on the same protocols as the US and UK.

Targeted therapy guided by molecular profiling. India's labs run next-generation sequencing and provide oncologists with the data to prescribe the right drug for the right tumour. For HER2-positive breast cancer, for hepatocellular carcinoma patients, for EGFR-mutant lung cancer — targeted agents are available.

Bone marrow transplant for leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma at Apollo, Max, and Fortis. Both autologous and allogeneic transplants. For Gambian patients told they need a transplant, India is the most accessible destination outside Europe.

Hospitals Prime Medical Works With

Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai — South Asia's only proton therapy facility. JCI accredited. Strong in paediatric oncology, brain tumours, complex head and neck cancers. International patient programme with experience handling West African patients.

Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, Delhi — Strong haematology and bone marrow transplant. Competitive pricing. International patient services handle patients from West Africa regularly.

Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon — Among Asia's most advanced hospitals for oncology. Multidisciplinary tumour board. Advanced radiation. JCI accredited.

Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai — India's highest-volume cancer centre. Accessible via Casablanca–Mumbai or other routes. Exceptional for complex cases and patients who have had prior treatment elsewhere.

Apollo Hospital, Delhi — JCI accredited. Full-spectrum cancer care. Africa desk.

The Process from Banjul

Send biopsy results, pathology, imaging if done, blood work, and previous treatment history to Prime Medical Solutions. If the patient has not had full staging imaging, this can be arranged in India on arrival. Within 48 hours, the oncologist reviews the case and sends a written opinion — diagnosis, recommended treatment, duration, and a case-specific cost estimate.

Indian e-medical visa for Gambian nationals: apply online at indianvisaonline.gov.in. Required documents: valid passport (at least six months validity), hospital appointment letter from Prime Medical, passport photograph. Processing takes three to five working days. Fee approximately USD 25.

Prime Medical helps plan the travel route based on availability and the patient's condition. On arrival in India, airport pickup and transfer to hospital or accommodation is arranged. A dedicated coordinator manages scheduling, hospital communication, and logistics throughout the treatment period.

Complete documentation is provided before departure. For patients receiving multi-cycle treatment, the plan accounts for travel back to Banjul between cycles when appropriate.

What Gambian Patients Ask

1. We have never been to India, is it manageable?

Many Gambian patients feel this way before they go. The hospitals have English-speaking staff throughout. International patient departments are set up for first-time international patients. Prime Medical's coordinator stays with you from arrival to departure, handling whatever is unfamiliar.

2. Is it safe for a cancer patient to travel that distance?

For most patients, yes — with appropriate planning. The medical team in India reviews fitness to travel before confirming arrangements. For patients who are very unwell, the team advises on what preparation is needed first.

3. Can we get a second opinion without committing to treatment?

Yes. Prime Medical arranges second opinion consultations as a standalone service. Many Gambian patients use this to confirm a diagnosis received at home before deciding on a treatment plan.

Begin Here

If you or a family member in Banjul has received a cancer diagnosis, share your medical reports with Prime Medical Solutions.

To book a consultation, call the number on our website. A coordinator will come back to you within 24 to 48 hours with a specialist assessment and a clear picture of what treatment in India would mean for your specific situation.

For Gambian cancer patients, India is not as far as it looks.