Kochi: Patients who flock to Cochin Cancer Research Centre (CCRC) are happy with the service rendered there but want the institution to become a full-fledged one so that a whole lot of services are offered and they are benefited fully.
Though the out-patient (OP) wing of the centre was started two and a half years ago, it still yearns for an operation theater, radiation facility and a mammogram unit. The patients complain that most of the medicines are still not available at the CCRC pharmacy. So they have to depend on the Ernakulam Government Medical College and Karunya community pharmacy, on the same campus for getting them. The hospital also provides chemotherapy.
On an average 1500 patients have been visiting the centre a year and 99% of them are from the poor economic background. They say that since the benefit of schemes like Karunya Scheme can't be availed from private hospitals, they find CCRC as a big solace. Patients afflicted with lung cancer, breast cancer and throat cancer mainly visit the centre.
"We are happy with the service provided by the staff at CCRC especially the doctors and nurses. It's a safe place and we are getting services except radiation and mammogram. For operation, we are taken to the medical college and once it is also taken care of here, we will be all the more comfortable," said Hyruniza, housewife who sought treatment for breast cancer, coming all the way from Coimbatore.
"The way doctors and the staff deal with patients is impressive but more facilities needed to be added to the centre. Doctors here have given me the courage to face the difficulties posed by my disease", said Ravi, hailing from poor backgrounds in Aluva, who sought treatment for lung cancer.
"I came here two months ago and I am in the primary stage of lung cancer. Doctors briefed me in detail about my disease to give me a correct picture of my disease so that I don't become worried about it,"said Jamaludin, another cancer patient from Ernakulam.
"I am satisfied with all the services provided by the institution. The neatness of the hospital is all the more impressive,"said Monica Sherly, a breast cancer patient hailing from Ernakulam who came for chemotherapy.
