Kochi: Even as the much-awaited Cochin Cancer Centre will complete two years of existence in November, the demand for an exclusive operation theatre for cancer surgeries has not been met yet. Though the health minister has instructed to provide theatre facility at Ernakulam government medical college, the renovation works have been delayed for more than a year.
“Though the cancer centre has four cancer surgeons, their services can’t be availed of due to lack of operation theatre. The Public Works Department, which was entrusted with the renovation work of the operation theatre, is not keen on completing it. Though the medical college authorities are ready to hand over the facility, the PWD has been delaying the work for no good reason,” said Dr. N.K. Sanil Kumar of Justice Krishna Iyer Movement.
“It is a cruelty to the cancer patients that despite having many rooms in the theatre complex, they are denied the services of cancer surgeons,” he added.
The Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer movement has submitted a letter to the PWD and health secretaries and also PWD chief engineer (buildings and roads) seeking immediate measures to accelerate the various development works at Ernakulam government medical college, including renovation of operation theatre for cancer surgeries.
Meanwhile, the cathlab at medical college, the construction of which was completed a couple of months ago, remains non-functional. The expensive imported equipment for the cathlab have been kept in cartons for six months.
“The functioning of the cathlab could not be started as an escalator has not been installed in the four-storeyed building. The PWD has to install the escalator for which a few more months will be needed,” added Dr. Sanil Kumar.
