DCB to provide Rs 450 crore loan
KOCHI: The much-delayed cancer centre in Kochi will become a reality soon with a high-level meeting convened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday taking a final decision on the funding for the project.
The Ernakulam Cancer Institute and Research Centre will be established as an autonomous institution on the lines of the Regional Cancer Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Mr Chandy said.
A society will be formed for the purpose within a month, he added. The Ernakulam District Cooperative Bank will provide Rs 450 crore as loan to the project based on the guarantee provided by the state government.
The loan will be repaid in 12 years with a moratorium for repayment in the first two years. Provisions for the repayment will be made in the state budget.
The Kerala State Beverages Corporation will provide Rs 10 crore for the initial works connected with the project. A decision in this regard will be taken in the next cabinet meeting, Excise Minister K. Babu said.
The institute with 300 beds will be established in two phases with the first stage covering 150 beds. A special officer will be appointed for the coordination of works connected with the project.
Health secretary K. Elangovan has been entrusted with preparing a report on forming the society for running the hospital while oncologist Dr. V.P. Gangadharan will prepare a report on the staff requirement and other technicalities connected with the project.
Ernakulam District Cooperative Bank president N.P. Paulose said that the interest rate for the loan will be finalized later. ‘We have asked for 12.5 per cent, but it will be decided later,” he said.
The meeting has decided to explore the possibility of beginning an outpatient department of the cancer centre in one of the buildings to be completed soon on the Ernakulam Medical College campus at Kalamasery, said Mr Hibi Eden MLA who was present at the meeting.
Health Minister V.S. Shivakumar, Excise Minister K. Babu, PWD Minister Ebrahim Kunju, MLAs Benny Behanan, Dominic Presentation, ECB president N.P. Paulose and senior government officials attended the meeting.
