‘Build’ Ernakulam Government Medical College first, then start centre

KOCHI: Even as fresh steps are being initiated to fulfil the dream of setting up the Kochi cancer centre at Kalamassery, it is being pointed out that a healthy Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC) is essential to build and operate a strong and sound cancer centre.

As the first move, the outpatient wing of the cancer centre is expected to be opened at the medical college in the first week of November with limited inpatient facilties though the Medical College principal says that he has not got any direction on in-patient facilities.

However, the current state of EMC leaves a lot to be desired with hardly any facilities to support the cancer OP. For basic screenings like ultrasound scanning it is understood that there is already a waiting period of two months.

“It is not equipped even up to half the level of the Ernakulam General Hospital and equipping the medical college is important for the starting phase of the cancer centre,” said K R Viswambharan, former Ernakulam District Collector and a volunteer of the Justice V R Krishna Iyer Movement which is spearheading the campaign to set up the cancer centre.

“The medical college does not even have basic facilities to support the cancer centre, like CT scan, MRI scan. These are needed for the diagnosis of cancer. Then the condition of the pathology department also is pathetic which is unfortunate because it is crucial for tests like biopsy and immuno histo chemistry. There is no mammogram at the hospital to detect breast cancer. While the General Hospital has a radiology department and cancer specialists, the medical college does not have them,” said Dr N K Sanil Kumar of the Justice Krishna Iyer Movement.

He further adds that all such facilities have to be introduced and strengthened to run the OP wing of the cancer centre and IP wing on a limited scale.

He also said that it was the Trivandrum Medical College which supported the Regional Cancer Centre in its initial stages and in the same manner, the EMC should be strengthened to help the Kochi cancer centre.