Demand to raise Kochi cancer centre to national institute gathers steam
KOCHI: With the state government deciding to initiate the process of setting up the Kochi cancer centre, a demand to make it the national cancer centre allotted for South India by the Central government has gathered strength.
A prerequisite for this is to include senior Central government officials like the Director -General of Health Services and Secretary to Government, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in the governing council of the new cancer centre. However, the state government is in the dock for not doing it.
“The presence of such senior officials in the governing council will strengthen the cause of making the Kochi cancer centre as a national cancer centre. The state government should make the move in this regard now itself,” said Dr N.K. Sanil Kumar, a member of the Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer Movement which is spearheading the agitation to realise the cancer centre.
Meanwhile, the State Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice J.B. Koshy has asked the state government to initiate steps to turn the Kochi cancer centre into a national cancer centre which is envisaged at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore at a place in South India.
The chairman also asked the government to submit the detailed project report of the Kochi cancer centre prepared by the Central government-owned Hospital Service Consultancy Corporation (HSCC), to the Central government so that it can be considered for the national cancer centre status.
The commission has sought explanation from the Chief Secretary and the Health Secretary on the issue by November 6 and the case is posted to November 11 at Kakkanad collectorate.
