The Spine Foundation is a registered trust, established in 1998 by the renowned Mumbai-based spine surgeon, Dr. Shekhar. Y. Bhojraj.
What began as the social arm of the spine unit at KEM Hospital, Mumbai, has since evolved into a life-transforming initiative dedicated to improving spinal health care for the underprivileged. While still affiliated with KEM Hospital, the foundation recognized early on that rural and tribal communities in India were in dire need of specialized spine care. In these areas, access to spine specialist is almost non-existent, making it crucial for TSF to extend it’s reach beyond urban centres.
Spine related issues have a profound impact on mobility, many children, elderly loved ones, Youth are suffering from Savior spine issues which are not affordable for them to treat. The spine foundation is changing these heartbreaking stories. Through compassion, free surgeries for poor, Comprehensive and conservative treatment, Tele medicine, OPD for poor patients in Mumbai and expert care. To address this pressing issue, TSF has worked tirelessly over the years to establish a wide-reaching network of Rural sine Care Centres (RSCC) across the country. These centres are set up in collaboration with government medical colleges, hospitals run by charitable foundation and local health care providers eager to be trained in spinal care.

Appeal

Spine surgery is a highly specialised procedure that demand extensive knowledge, dedication, and significant experience. Unlike routine surgeries, it involves the use of advanced instruments, precise techniques, and specialised expertise. The complexity of spinal conditions, couples with the need for state-of-the-art medical equipment, makes these surgeries challenging even in well-equipped urban centres.
As a result, thousand of individuals on rural and tribal regions continue to suffer from debilitating spinal conditions. This highlights the urgent need for initiatives, like The Spine Foundation, to bridge the gap and bring specialised spine care to these underserved populations.
Financial contributions help cover the coast of surgeries, medical implants, and essential instruments, all of which are vital to providing high-quality, free spine care to those who can not afford it. However, none of this work would be possible without the continued support of compassionate individuals and organisations. The foundation is in urgent need of funds to cover all the above mentioned activities and salaries of its dedicated staff, who are deeply committed to alleviating the burden of spinal conditions in underserved communities.
We invite you join us in this noble mission to transform lives through spine care. Your support will enable us to continue reaching the most vulnerable populations and give them the chance to live pain-free, dignified lives. Together, we can ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to receiving the critical spine care they need.
The Spine Foundation has developed a comprehensive and sustainable model for spine care management in rural and tribal India; to know:
1. Prepare a feasibility study to identify government hospitals in rural and tribal locations; and conduct surveys to assess the real needs of the local patients.
2. Establish Rural Spine Care Centres (RSCCs) at government hospitals to conduct regular OPDs and surgeries by the TSF doctors, in collaboration with local doctors, nurses and physios.
3. Organise awareness campaigns and transportation for patients from surrounding areas to facilitate access to the spine camps conducted at the RSCCs.
4. Conduct training and capacity building of local doctors and voluntary health workers in identifying and treating basic spine problems, while collaborating with secondary and tertiary care centres as well as medical colleges and institutions.
5. Set up a referral practice chain, known as the five-filter system, to ensure appropriate care escalation for patients, while involving village health workers, district hospitals, and RSCCs.

So far, TSF has treated more than 69.011 patients in OPD and performed more than 2281 surgeries at 17 different locations across all States in India.