Kochi: Close on the heels of Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC) getting administrative sanction for setting up a Rs 12. 68-crore palliative care centre with the aid of the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), the Cochin Cancer Research Centre (CCRC) on the campus has initiated steps to launch one on similar lines. With director Dr Moni Kuriakose set to take over reins on Monday, the CCRC is joining hands with an NGO to launch a palliative care unit to serve patients who are undergoing chemotherapy but are battling reactions and those who are terminally ill and are restricted to their beds at home. The National Health Mission is also supporting this initiative.
The NGO Karunya Varsham which is based in Kochi will provide the vehicle, driver and a nurse for reaching out to the patients at their homes. Initially, patients registered with CCRC within five- kilometre radius of the centre will be served. Radiation oncologist Dr Ushasree Warrier will be in charge of the unit. Doctors at the CCRC will step in to assist the team wherever needed. The initiative has been taken at the instance of the district collector and special officer of CCRC Muhammed Y. Safirulla. Mr Safirulla told DC on Saturday that palliative care unit of the CCRC and that of the EMC would be complementary. “That way it should be. The CCRC is envisaged as a research centre. So other such facilities on the same campus will be a fillip for research,” he added.
The CCRC palliative services include pain management, bed care, wound care and physiotherapy. CCRC authorities have approached the State Drug Controller for the licence to store morphine which is used in cancer pain management since it comes under the narcotics category. The drug controller is expected to make his visit soon to inspect the facilities to store the drug and then clear the project. The centre is set to be started in two months.
