Specialty Surgical Oncology Hospital (SSO), a chain of surgical cancer hospitals in Western India, has secured $2.8 million in funding from the Everhope Oncology platform, founded and backed by Narayana Health, W Health Ventures, and 2070 Health. This investment marks a key milestone in SSO’s journey to expand the provision of specialized, affordable cancer care.

India faces nearly 2 million new cancer cases annually, making it one of the fastest-growing cancer burdens worldwide, with incidence expected to double by 2045. In this context, scalable, high-quality models of cancer care are urgently needed. SSO was founded in 2021 by a team of seven cancer surgeons led by Dr. Sanket Mehta, a Tata-trained cancer surgeon, to address critical gaps in cancer surgery, especially the challenges caused by overcrowded hospitals, long waiting times, and procedures often performed by general surgeons with limited access to advanced care.

SSO is pioneering organ-specific surgical teams that manage even complex cases in facilities dedicated solely to cancer surgeries. Since its inception, SSO has grown to five centres and a team of 20 surgeons, who have collectively performed over 20,000 complex oncology procedures.

SSO Cancer Hospital was founded on a simple belief: geography or income should never determine a patient’s fate,” said Dr. Sanket Mehta. “This partnership represents a significant milestone for our team. It allows us to launch three new centres in Mumbai and invest significantly in clinical talent, advanced infrastructure, and strong systems, so we can consistently provide care at the highest standard.

Dr Pankaj Jethwani, Managing Partner at W Health Ventures, said, “When physicians are trusted to shape care delivery, they go beyond just clinical excellence – they build systems that bridge gaps in patient care and drive meaningful outcomes. SSO’s approach is thoughtful and reflects that founders don’t just see themselves as clinicians but as institution builders.

Healthcare models grounded in this level of expertise and intent from doctor-preneurs are exactly the ones that we want to help build and scale.”

Viren Shetty, Narayana Health’s Executive Vice-Chairman, noted, “At Narayana Health we’ve learnt that when you design for the middle-income patient, you end up building the most resilient and scalable model of care. Over the next few decades, millions of Indians will live with cancer, and they will need access to high-quality surgery close to where they live, not just in a handful of big hospitals. SSO has applied that philosophy to cancer surgery with organ-specific teams across facilities, and we’re excited to back them through the Everhope platform as they take this model to many more cities across India.”

As SSO enters its next chapter, it remains rooted in its founding purpose – ensuring that no patient is left behind. With strong clinical leadership, aligned partners, and dedicated capital, SSO is positioned to transform the delivery of comprehensive cancer treatment at scale, expanding its presence across Western India, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and major cities in Maharashtra and Gujarat.