Kochi: The Health Department is proceeding with the second phase of the Kochi Cancer Research Centre (KCRC) project costing '354 crore by ensuring that it will pass the tests of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
KIIFB is set to consider the project at its next meeting in February. A senior State Health Department officer has said that Department has submitted the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the approval of KIIFB and it will be considered in the next meeting.
"We don't foresee any difficulty in clearance by KIIFB for the '354-crore project as the benefit to cost ratio of the project is greater than even Kochi Metro. This ratio is more than one for the cancer centre. The ratio assesses the benefit of the project to society in relation to its cost," the officer told DC on Sunday.
He said that in 15 years the project can cover its cost by using the existing different insurance schemes of the state government, which would be the major share, private insurance schemes and cost levied on others without insurance.
He said that once the project is cleared by KIIFB, it will enter the stage of tendering and then the implementation process begins. "That is a big challenge and we plan to position it as a premier centre which can outclass the top private hospitals in Kochi," said the official.
District Collector and special officer of the project Mohammed Y Safirulla told DC that the project implementation will have three major aspects.
"First we will have to complete the civil and allied construction process and then the purchase of equipment comes which will include imported ones. Thirdly we have to get quality human resources including specialists to run the centre. Once the Government approval comes, we will start working on all aspects," Mr Safirulla said.
