Kulwant S Dhaliwal, 67, a former successful cloth merchant in the UK, reshaped his life’s purpose after losing both his mother and father-in-law to cancer. Deeply impacted by these tragedies, Dhaliwal stepped away from his business career nearly 20 years ago and committed himself fully to philanthropy, focusing on cancer awareness, early detection, and medical care for underserved populations.
Today, Dhaliwal spends more time in Punjab than in the UK, personally managing initiatives through his NGO, the World Cancer Care Society. His organization has established three cancer hospitals and one eye hospital in the state, along with conducting regular diagnostic camps across nearly 11,000 of Punjab’s 12,700 villages.
World Cancer Care also operates more than 18 mobile medical units, equipped with mammography machines, cancer screening tools, diabetes and blood pressure monitors, ECG equipment, and eye care kits. These mobile clinics not only screen patients but also offer free medicines through a medical langar for those in need.
The first cancer hospital opened its doors in Suchi Pind, Jalandhar, over a decade ago. Since then, Dhaliwal has launched another facility in Nanaksar near Ludhiana, and is currently overseeing the construction of a new hospital in Anandpur Sahib, expected to be completed by year’s end. His eye hospital is based in Lohian, Jalandhar. Since the beginning of this year, his team has screened over 100,000 patients at eye camps and distributed quality eyeglasses to many.
Health camps organized by his NGO have also taken place in Mansa, Sangrur, and Barnala, with backing from organizations such as Trident Group. The outreach has now expanded beyond Punjab to include parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh.
In recognition of his exceptional service, Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria recently honoured Dhaliwal for his humanitarian efforts.
Looking back on his journey, Dhaliwal shared that his mission stems from a promise to his late mother—to raise awareness about cancer’s early warning signs. “She was diagnosed too late. I want to ensure no one else has to endure what my family did,” he said. Dhaliwal also encourages women to prioritize home-cooked food, avoiding harmful chemicals often found in outside meals.
A native of Moga and an alumnus of DAV College in Jalandhar, Dhaliwal has always felt a deep connection to the region. It’s this bond that inspired him to base his largest hospital projects near his hometown, honoring both his roots and the people who shaped his journey.
