Tamilnad Kidney Research (TANKER) Foundation

Tamilnad Kidney Research (TANKER) Foundation is a registered non-profit charitable trust established in June 1993 by Dr. Georgi Abraham (Founder), Mrs. Latha A. Kumaraswami (Managing Trustee), Mr. Suresh Balaje (Chairman), and other like-minded individuals. The Foundation was created with the primary mission of providing subsidized dialysis and financial assistance for kidney transplantation, medications, and diagnostic investigations for underprivileged patients suffering from kidney disease.

We have completed 32 years of service for the underprivileged with kidney ailments. With valuable support from well-wishers, we have meaningfully contributed to healthcare, research, training and advocacy connected to kidney disease. From June 1993 till June 2025, TANKER has provided 7,88,452 free and subsidized dialysis for 3087 patients. We have also given financial support of Rs. 4.69 Crores to 5390 patients for transplantation, medication, investigation and fistula surgery costs.

Our Fourteen subsidized dialysis units have a total of 250 Dialysis Machines and are situated in 1. Ambattur Rotary Hospital, Chennai 2. Madurai Chokkikulam with Arogya Trust 3. Vellore with Rotary Club of Vellore Fort 4. Thiruverkadu, Chennai with Rotary Club of Madras West 5. Porur, Chennai Sathyalok with Sathyalok Charitable Trust, MWRT -10 Rotary Club of Chennai Capital, 6.  Corporation P.H.C, Nungambakkam, Chennai with Rotary Club of Madras East,  7. Corporation U. P. H. C, Retteri, Chennai with Rotary Club of Chennai Towers, 8. Perungudi, Chennai with Corporation U.C.H.C 9. Corporation U.C.H.C, Valasaravakkam, Chennai with Rotary Club of Chennai Coastal, 10. Corporation U.C.H.C Injambakkam, Chennai with Freemasons Lodge Accountants 194 and Lodge Accountants Charitable Trust 11.Tiruppur with Tiruppur North Rotary Dialysis Trust and Tiruppur Corporation, 12. Corporation U.C.H.C, Thiruvotriyur, Chennai with Rotary Club of Madras Central Aadithya and Rotary Club of Madras West, 13. UPHC Padi, Chennai  with** RCMW Kerala Catholic Society 14. Deivathiru Balamani Krishnaswami Memorial TANKER Dialysis Center, Dindigul**. 

We provide 8826 dialysis per month, of which 8666 are free of cost with valuable help from** the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), Greater Chennai Corporation and other valuable donors. At present, we help 886 patients** in our units.

We also have 2 dialysis machines at MGM Hospital, Pondicherry. In November 2009, we started our HIV Dialysis Unit for dialysis for underprivileged HIV patients. This is the first of its kind in India.  Subsequently we also helped open an HIV facility with 3 machines in Parumala, Kerala. We also support Kerala Kidney Research Foundation (KKRF), which provides free and subsidized dialysis at Tiruvalla Medical Mission, SH Hospital, Kottayam and PVS Hospital, Kochi. We have recently also donated 4 machines worth Rs. 24 Lakhs to KKRF.  In February 2016, TANKER helped Catholic Mission Centre Hospital, Imphal, Manipur with 4 machines and equipment worth Rs. 33 Lakhs. We have enabled the opening of 3 dialysis units, one each in Pillar Hospital, Port Blair, Andaman Islands  with Rotary Club of Guindy, Lawley Hospital, Coonoor with Rotary Club of Nilgiris and in Bethany Medical Centre in Anaikatti, Attapadi to benefit the tribal population there. TANKER along with The Madras Medical Mission has donated a machine to the Dar es salaam General Hospital in Tanzania.

Almost 2.5 lakh people die of kidney failure in India every year. It is the third largest killer after malignancy and heart disease. Along with helping our patients, spreading the word about kidney disease is equally important to TANKER. We have reached out to more than 2.15 lakhs people with the 1502 Awareness Programmes at schools, colleges, law enforcement offices and public forums. We have also screened 48,838 individuals for early detection of kidney disease through our 635 screening camps.  As the field of research in kidney diseases requires more attention and guidance in India, TANKER also gives awards for research in Nephrology and Service to the tune of Rs. 9 lakhs every year.

We are continuing to provide dialysis for all our patients through our 14 dialysis units. Our grateful thanks again for your continued support. Please keep our staff and patients in your prayers.