At Toronto Western Hospital, Canada, the late Prof. Dimitrios G. Oreopoulos inculcated compassionate care and an empathetic understanding of the complex problems faced by kidney patients in young Dr. Georgi Abraham. The humane approach, passion and vision of Dr. Oreopoulos influenced the life of Dr. Georgi Abraham so much that he decided to return to India to serve the needy. Dr. Abraham gave up his lucrative career in Canada to relocate to Chennai and started a new career providing care to underprivileged people struck by kidney disease.
As was his nature, Dr. Georgi Abraham formed personal relationships with his patients and their families. One such patient was Dr. Sarojini Kumaraswami who had returned from the UK and was on CAPD (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis) which Dr. Georgi pioneered in India. Dr. Sarojini Kumaraswami’s daughter-in-law, Mrs. Latha Kumaraswami, and other like-minded people had a desire to do something about the lack of affordable care and treatment available for underprivileged patients with kidney disease.
At a time when India had less than 500 Kidney specialists in 1990 (currently there are more than 1,850 which is still grossly inadequate), he had the opportunity and privilege to meet and gather a group of great philanthropists to establish the Tamilnad Kidney Research Foundation (TANKER Foundation) in 1993 as a charitable trust for underprivileged people with kidney disease. These philanthropists became the Trustees of TANKER Foundation.
After the enactment of the Indian Transplantation law in 1994, Dr. Georgi Abraham and colleagues implemented the first multi organ deceased donor transplantation in India at Chennai, India in 1995. The successful kidney transplantation from poisonous cobra-bite brain dead victims, that was reported for the first time in the world by his team in Transplantation 1997 was a breakthrough.
From small beginnings in June 1993, TANKER has grown with the help of family, friends, donors, corporates, the Government and other well-wishers. TANKER is now engaged in a broad range of activities aimed at information dissemination and prevention of the onset of kidney disease. TANKER provides free and subsidized dialysis to underprivileged Kidney patients in 14 dialysis Units spread throughout Tamil Nadu.
| November 1994 | 2 units | Tamilnad Hospitals and Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute |
| January 1999 | 5 Dialysis Machines | Rekha Memorial TANKER Foundation Subsidized Dialysis Unit began at premises provided by Mr. K.V. George at Kilpauk. The Unit was later relocated to Ambattur Rotary Charitable Hospital. |
| March 2006 | 6 Dialysis Machines | Our 1st Unit, The Renny Abraham TANKER Foundation Ambattur Rotary Subsidized Dialysis Unit was started in a rent-free space provided by Ambattur Rotary Charitable Hospital. |
| October 2006 | 6 Dialysis Machines | TANKER, with the help of our goodwill Ambassador, and actor, Mr. R.S. Suriya, started the 2nd Unit, TANKER Foundation Madurai Subsidized Dialysis Unit at Vallabhai Road, Chokkikulam. |
| January 2007 | The Madras West Round Table 10, The Madras Ladies Circle 2 and TANKER’s Goodwill Ambassador Suriya launched the Dialysis A Day (DAD) project. The DAD project encourages people to sponsor a dialysis for a patient/s for a month / year or any number of days they wish to. TANKER channelizes the amount to provide free dialysis for a patient/s. | |
| 2009 | 2 Dialysis Machines | A dialysis facility for HIV positive patients began with machines donated by Fresenius Medical Care & Rotary Club of Madras, Vadapalani. |
| October 2013 | 6 Dialysis Machines | Our unit which was inaugurated at Sulur, Coimbatore by Goodwill Ambassador, Mr Suriya with the help of Rathnavel Subramaniam (RVS) group, established as a public charitable trust in memory of Master Rathnavel Subramaniam, the elder son of group chairman, Dr. K.V. Kupusamy and Mrs. K. Padmavathy, is now non functional due to a lack of need in that region. |
| December 2013 | 1 Dialysis Machine | TANKER & MMM Hospital donated a machine together with an RO plant to the Government of Tanzania. |
| August 2014 | 18 Dialysis Machines | Our 3rd Unit came up at Nungambakkam along with Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and Rotary Club of Madras East (RCME) |
| October 2014 | 28 Dialysis Machines | The Rekha Memorial Renny Abraham Ambattur Rotary TANKER Foundation Subsidized Dialysis Unit was inaugurated by actor Suriya .This unit, was made possible with the generosity and support of
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| February 2016 | 4 Dialysis Machines | Along with machines, The Catholic Mission Centre Hospital donated other equipment totalling ₹ 3.3 million to set up a new unit at Imphal, Manipur. |
| May 2017 | 13 Dialysis Machines | Our 4th Unit was inaugurated by Mr. Prem Watsa, CEO & Chairman, Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd, at Thiruverkadu Medical Centre, along with Rotary Club of Madras West. |
| June 2017 | 8 Dialysis Machines | Our 5th Unit was started along with the Rotary Club of Vellore Fort, was inaugurated by Vellore MLA, Mr. P. Karthikeyan, at Sathuvachari, Vellore. |
| August 2018 | 10 Dialysis Machines | Our 6th Unit came up at UPHC, Lakshmipuram, Retteri, in association with Rotary Club of Chennai Towers and Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and was inaugurated by Mr. P. Madhusudhan Reddy IAS, Deputy Commissioner (Health), Greater Chennai Corporation and IPDG Rtn. Srinivasan |
| August 2019 | 10 Dialysis Machines | Our 7th Unit at Greater Chennai Corporation-UCHC TANKER Foundation Dialysis Center, Perungudi was inaugurated by Chief Guest Mr. G. Prakash, I.A.S Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation, Guest of Honours Mr. P. Madhusudhan Reddy, I. A. S, Deputy Commissioner (Health), Greater Chennai Corporation and Mr. Senthilnathan, City Health Officer |
| June 2020 | 10 Dialysis Machines | Our 8th Unit RCCC-UCHC TANKER Foundation Dialysis Center, set up at Valasaravakkam, Chennai in association with The Greater Chennai Corporation(GCC) and Rotary Club of Chennai Coastal (RCCC), was inaugurated by Mr. Prakash Govindasamy and Mr. G. Chandramohan, District Governor Dist 3232, Rotary Club of Madras Northwest |
| July 2020 | 10 Dialysis Machines | Our 9th Unit The Greater Chennai Corporation, Lodge Accountants No. 194, TANKER Foundation Dialysis Center, started at Injambakkam in collaboration with Greater Chennai Corporation and Lodge Accountants Charitable Trust, Lodge Accountants No 194 (Freemasons Lodge) was inaugurated by Mr. G. Prakash IAS, Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation and Mr. V G Madhusudhan, Regional Grand Master of the Regional Grand Lodge of South India and Mr. Madhusudhan Reddy, IAS, Joint Commissioner, Health, Greater Chennai Corporation |
| August 2020 | 10 Dialysis Machines | Our 10th Unit, The Tiruppur North Rotary Club, Tiruppur Corporation & TANKER Foundation Dialysis Center came up at Tiruppur and was inaugurated by Rtn. S. Gunasekaran M.L.A, Tiruppur South Constituency, Dr. K. Vijayakarthikeyan I. A. S, Thirupur Collector & Mr. K. Sivakumar M.A Thirupur Corporation Commissioner |
| June 2021 | 10 Dialysis machines | Our 11th Unit, Rotary Club of Chennai Aadithya and Rotary Club of Madras West and TANKER Foundation came up at Tiruvottiyur. It was inaugurated by Thiru. Ma. Subramanian BA.,LL.B, Honourable Minister for Medical and Family Welfare, Tamilnadu. |
| July 2021 | 10 Dialysis Machines | Our 12th Unit, The Sathyalok Mrs.Shanti Lulla MWRT -10 ,Rotary Club of Chennai Capital TANKER Foundation dialysis center came up at Porur,Chennai. This is a joint effort of Sathyalok Charitable Trust,Mr.Sanjay Lulla, MWRT -10 ,Rotary Club of Chennai Capital, Rotary International and TANKER Foundation. It was inaugurated by Mr. Sanjay Lulla, Mr. Prem Watwani & Mr. Mukesh Khubchandani. |
| May 2022 | 12 Dialysis Machines | Our 13th Unit, GCC RCMW KCS TANKER Padi dialysis unit in collaboration with Greater Chennai Corporation, Rotary Club of Madras West, Kerala Catholic Society, and TANKER Foundation, was inaugurated by Mr. P.K. Sekar Babu, Tamil Nadu Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments. |
| Jan 2023 | 10 Dialysis Machines | Our 14th Unit, GCC RCME TANKER Padi dialysis unit in collaboration with Corporation U.P.H.C Vyasarpadi, Chennai along with Rotary Club of Madras East and TANKER Foundation, was inaugurated by Mr. K.N. Nehru, Tamil Nadu Minister for Municipal Administration, Urban and Water Supply. |
| February 2023 | 1 Dialysis Machine | The Rekha Memorial Renny Abraham Ambattur Rotary TANKER Dialysis Unit, Ambattur, Chennai got a New Heamodialysis Machine donated by Rao Bahadur Vemur Ranganadham Chetty’s Charities. |
| March 2023 | Dialysis Unit Inaugurated | Seropositive Dialysis Unit opens at the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and Rotary Club of Madras East (RCME) and TANKER Foundation Valluvarkottam Dialysis unit. Tamilnadu Minister for Municipal Administration Mr. K.N. Nehru, did the honours and declared the Unit Open. Thousand Lights MLA, Dr. Ezhilan, who initiated and took an active interest in the project, was present along with Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner, Mr. Gagandeep Singh, Additional Commissioner, Mr. Shankarlal Kumavat, CHO, Dr. Jagadeesan, Councillors from Ward 112, Mrs. Elizebeth, from Ward 113, Mrs. Prema Suresh, Dr. Chitra and other officials from the Corporation and Ministry. |
| March 2023 | 2 Dialysis Machines | Hepatitis positive ward at the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and Rotary Club of Madras East (RCME) and TANKER Foundation Valluvarkottam Dialysis unit has got the support of Chennai Willingdon Corporate Foundation (CWCF) with two dialysis machines and was inaugurated by Mr. R. Srikanth, Director of CWCF, and Joint Managing Director, Brakes India Pvt Ltd. |
| March 2023 | 5 Dialysis Machines | Five new dialysis machines (4 donated by the Cognizant Foundation and 1 by the Janakibai Pahalsingh Bajaj Charitable Trust) were inaugurated by AKS. PDG. Rtn. Sv Rm. Ramanathan, Rtn. Nallamai Ramanathan Past Innerwheel Chair Rotary District 3232, Mr P Kartikeyan, MLA, Vellore Constituency and Mrs Sujatha Anandakumar Mayor, Vellore Corporation at the Pachaiammal Shanmugam Rotafort TANKER Foundation Dialysis Unit, Rotary Club of Vellore Fort, Sathuvachari, Vellore |
| March 2023 | 2 Dialysis Machines | The Corporation Urban Primary Health Center, Rotary Club of Chennai Towers & Tanker Foundation Dialysis Unit, Retteri, Chennai got two dialysis machines donated by M/s. SBI General Insurance Company through Give India were inaugurated by Mr. G. Ravishankar, Regional Underwriting Manager, Mr. M. Datchina Murthy, Branch Operations Manager and Mr. Clifford D’costa CSR Manager, SBI General Insurance Company. |
| June 2023 | 2 Dialysis Machines | Two dialysis machines, donated by Avant-Garde Systems and Controls Pvt Ltd and Mr. K. Ragothaman and Mrs. Usha Ragothaman for the positive wing of the dialysis unit in the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and Rotary Club of Madras East (RCME) and TANKER Foundation Valluvarkottam Dialysis unit, Valluvarkottam, were inaugurated by Thousand Lights MLA, Dr. Ezhilan Naganathan, Mr. K. Ragothaman, Director, Mr. S.Balasubramanian, Director and Mr. P.S. Sankaranarayanan, Director, Avant-Garde Systems and Controls Pvt Ltd. |
| July 2023 | 1 Dialysis Machine | A new Haemodialysis Machine was inaugurated at The Rekha Memorial Renny Abraham Ambattur Rotary TANKER Foundation Dialysis Unit, Ambattur donated by Aptus Value Housing Finance India Limited and was inaugurated by Mr. M. Anandan, Founder & Executive Chairman, Aptus Value Housing Finance India Limited. Aptus Value Housing Finance India Limited also supported us CCTV facility for our fifteen centres, Desktops, Laptops and Uniforms for our staff |
| September 2023 | 1 Dialysis Machine | A new Haemodialysis Machine at The Rekha Memorial Renny Abraham Ambattur Rotary TANKER Foundation Dialysis Unit, Ambattur was donated and inaugurated by Mr. Shankar Narayan Swamy and Mrs. Asha Swamy. |
| October 2023 | 1 Dialysis Machine | The new Haemodialysis Machine donated by M/s. Adhyan Charitable Trust was inaugurated by Ms. Anjana Kovoor, Operations Head, M/s. Adhyan Charitable at The Corporation Urban Primary Health Center, Rotary Club of Chennai Towers & Tanker Foundation Dialysis Unit, Retteri, Chennai. |
| November 2023 | Book Release | ‘Shining the Light of Hope – The Healing Touch’, a book by TANKER Foundation inspired by Founder-Trustee, Dr Georgi Abraham, was released by Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner, Dr. J. Radhakrishnan. |
| November 2023 | CME Program | CME programme, a collaborative effort of TANKER Foundation, MOHAN Foundation, Kidney Warriors Foundation, NephroPlus and Boehringer Ingelheim held, with the theme ‘Kidney Health for All’ which emphasis on exercise and diet, awareness, screening and timely check-ups to prevent chronic kidney disease (CKD). |
| February 2024 | 1 Dialysis machine | A New Haemodialysis Machine for the Rekha Memorial Renny Abraham Ambattur Rotary Tanker Dialysis Unit donated by M/s. Kotak Mahindra Life Insurance Company Ltd was inaugurated by Mr. Clement Williams, Senior Vice President- FIG AND Mr. Pawan Soni Chief Manager – CSR |
| February 2024 | 4 Dialysis Machines | Four new dialysis machines were inaugurated by Mrs. Kavery Kalanithi, Executive Director, Sun TV Network Ltd, at The Rekha Memorial Renny Abraham Ambattur Rotary TANKER DialysisUnit at Ambattur. They also donated 7 mobile toilets for our dialysis units in Tiruverkadu, Vellore, Tiruppur and Sathyalok and a dialysis machine last year. |
| April 2024 | 1 Dialysis Machine | A new dialysis machine at The Rekha Memorial Renny Abraham Ambattur Rotary TANKER Foundation Dialysis Unit, Ambattur was donated and inaugurated by Dr. D.V.R. Prakash Rao, Chairman and Managing Director, Prakash Foods & Feed Mills Private Limited. |
| November 2024 | 1 Dialysis Machine | A New Machine was donated and inaugurated in memory of Mr. Madhavan & Mrs. Kothai by Mr. M. Anantha Krishnan at The Pachaiyammal Shanmugam Rota Fort TANKER Foundation Dialysis Unit, Sathuvachari, Vellore |
| December 2024 | 1 Dialysis Machine | A New Machine was donated by M/s. Kaleesuwari Refinery Pvt Ltd and inaugurated by Ms. Meenakshi Ashok, M/s. Kaleesuwari Foundation at The Thiruverkadu RCMW TANKER Foundation Dialysis Unit, Thiruverkadu, Chennai |
| January 2025 | 9 Dialysis Machines | The Rekha Memorial Renny Abraham Ambattur Rotary TANKER Dialysis Unit in Ambattur saw nine new haemodialysis machines being inaugurated on, January 23, 2025 donated by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), and inaugurated by Mr. N. Senthil Kumar, Director (Pipelines), holding Additional Charge of Director (P&BD), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., in the presence of Mr. L.K. Jha, Executive Director and Regional Head, Southern Region Pipeline, and other senior officials from IOCL |
| March 2025 | 1 Dialysis Machine | A new machine at Greater Chennai Corporation RCME TANKER dialysis unit, Valluvarkottam, was inaugurated on 3rd March, 2025 by Mr. Sivaramakrishnan L, Manager – CSR, Five Star Business Finance Limited, with the guest of honour, Dr Ezhilan, MLA, Thousand Lights. Five Star Business Finance Limited has supported four dialysis machines as part of their company’s CSR initiative to TANKER Foundation’s Valluvarkottam, Vellore and Tiruppur dialysis units. |
| March 2025 | 1 Dialysis Machine | New Dialysis Machine was inaugurated on 11th March, 2025 at Greater Chennai Corporation RCMW KCS TANKER Padi Dialysis Unit. The machine was inaugurated by Mr. M. Anandan, Founder & Executive Chairman, Aptus Value Housing Finance India. Aptus Value Housing Finance India Limited has generously supported TANKER’s dialysis units by donating six dialysis machines, ten air conditioners, and four SERVO stabilizers as part of their CSR initiative. |
| March 2025 | 2 Dialysis Machines | Dishaa Foundation donated two dialysis machines as part of their CSR initiative. The two new dialysis machines were inaugurated by Mr. Vivek Rajagopalan, Trustee, Dishaa Foundation, on 14th March, 2025 at the Corporation UPHC, RCCT TANKER Dialysis Unit, Lakshmipuram, Retteri. |
| March 2025 | 1 Dialysis Machine | Ecare India Private Limited has generously donated one dialysis machine as part of their CSR initiative through the Rotary Club of Chennai ECR. The new machine was inaugurated on, March 17, 2025, by Mr. Suresh Kumar Sanghi at the Greater Chennai Corporation, Lodge Accountants No.194, TANKER Dialysis Unit, located at Zone-15, Cholamandal Artists Village, Injambakkam. |
| April 2025 | Dialysis Unit Inaugurated | The Deivathiru Balamani Krishnasami Memorial – TANKER Foundation Dialysis Center, that is part of the memorial hospital at Pitalampatti, Vathalagundu Road, Dindigul was declared open by Palani MLA I.P. Senthil Kumar on 5th April, 2025, was inaugurated by Rural Development Minister I. Periyasamy with Dr. Georgi Abraham and Mr. P.S. Velusami, Founder, Sri Shanmugavel Mills Group, Dindigul, presiding over the function. |
| May 2025 | Phase II of Sathyalok Dialysis Unit Inaugurated | Rotary Club of Chennai Capital, in collaboration with Madras West Round Table 10 (MWRT-10), inaugurated the second phase of a 19-bed dialysis centre at Porur, Chennai. The facility, located within the Sathyalok Shanti Lulla MWRT-10 RCC TANKER Foundation Dialysis Center was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mr. Ma. Subramanian on 5th May,2025 in the presence of Maduravoyal MLA, Mr. K. Ganapathy, and Round Table India, Area 2, Area Chairman, Mr. Kunal Chowdhari. |
| May 2025 | 2 Dialysis Machines | Two new dialysis machines donated by Flyjac Logistics Pvt. Ltd., were inaugurated on 26th May, 2025 by Mr. J. Shyam Sundar, Managing Director, Mr. R. Kumaran, Deputy Managing Director, and Mr. Shuji Ueno, Director and VP – Accounting and Finance, Flyjac Logistics Pvt. Ltd., at The Thiruverkadu RCMW TANKER dialysis unit, Koladi Road, Thiruverkadu. |