Kochi: Health Minister V S Sivakumar on Saturday announced here that the foundation stone for a Rs 450-crore cancer research centre-cum-hospital would be laid in August. Cleared by the State Cabinet in Kochi, this would fulfill a long cherished dream of Central Kerala's. Work on the cancer centre, to be set up on 10 acres of the Ernakulam Government Medical College campus at Kalamassery, and to have a 300-bed hospital, would be completed in 30 to 36 months, he said.
“The sum of Rs 450 crore will be spent in the first phase and the hospital cum research centre will be expanded in subsequent phases,” Mr Sivakumar said. Officials from the Central government-owned Hospital Service Consultancy Corporation (HSCC) Ltd presented a detailed project report before Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Mr Sivakumar and other ministers, MLAs and officials, which was accepted and also incorporated the suggestions of Regional Cancer Centre director Dr Paul Sebastian and Cancer Centre special officer Dr V P Gangadharan.
After the meeting Health Secretary Dr K Elangovan said that global tenders would be floated for the implementation of the project under the supervision of the HSCC and a suitable bidder would be selected. The Health Minister said that the Health Department would co-ordinate its implementation. The cancer institute will have eight blocks and 15 departments. The eight blocks will consist of an in patient department, an out patient department and day care centre for cancer patients, radio therapy, emergency, research department, hostel block, an auditorium and service blocks.
The 15 departments are, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, radiology, nuclear medicine, anesthesia, palliative care, emergency, tumour pathology, preventive oncology, psycho oncology, blood bank, medical physics, laboratory department and rehabilitation department, said Dr Elangovan. Excise Minister K Babu, PWD Minister V K Ibrahimkunju, Justice V R Krishna Iyer, Prof M K Sanu, Charles Diaz MP, Hibi Eden and Dominic Presentation, Ludy Luiz, MLAs, and Mayor Tony Chammandy, attended the meeting.
