The Role of Businesses in Supporting Non-Governmental Organisation for Cancer Care in India: Priorities, Barriers, and Facilitators

PURPOSE Over 75% of Indian households affected by cancer face catastrophic health costs. Support from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and corporate philanthropy, through initiatives such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which involves corporate funding for social development, helps address health disparities. This study explored factors influencing CSR spending on cancer projects and associated barriers and facilitators. METHODS In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 NGO and 3 CSR stakeholders. Data were thematically analyzed using an inductive approach until saturation was reached. RESULTS Participants indicated that CSR funding for cancer initiatives was affected by four factors: 1) misalignment between corporate priorities and NGO cancer care needs, 2) neglect of NGOs’ operational and capacity-building costs, 3) businesses’ preference for initiatives in their close vicinity, and 4) outcomes of the diseases. NGOs seeking CSR funding for cancer care faced barriers, including limited attention to sustainability and long-term impact; limited organisational capacity to meet communication, reporting, and administrative demands of CSR grants; and the competitive disadvantage of small or grassroot NGOs versus larger, well-established organisations. Despite these challenges, participants identified facilitators and opportunities to enhance CSR’s impact, such as adopting innovative partnership models between corporates and NGOs, extending CSR support to non-medical care costs like lodging, educational outreach and nutritional assistance, and fostering collaborations where established NGOs share CSR funds or expertise to support smaller organisations in joint cancer care projects and a tendency for companies to contribute when leaders or staff had personal or family experiences with cancer. CONCLUSION This is the first qualitative study to highlight the determinants, barriers, and facilitators of CSR spending on cancer care in India. While India’s mandatory CSR legislation has increased investment in social development, its full potential in cancer care remains untapped.