Kochi: Health minister K.K. Shylaja, who visited the Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC) on Tuesday, disappointed cancer patients and those campaigning for the fledgling Cochin Cancer Research Centre (CCRC) alike by not turning up at the centre which is currently functioning on the campus of EMC.
According to EMC principal Dr V.K. Sreekala, the minister, who went to the blood bank facility at EMC in the wake of the HIV infection at RCC, expressed satisfaction at the arrangements there.
“She also visited the neo-natal ICU, casualty and operation theatre and lauded the EMC staff for saving the life of a prematurely-born child,” said the principal.
Cath lab will be established as part of the cardiology department at the EMC by January and the imaging centre comprising MRI and CT scanners will be set up by December end. Mr John Fernadez MLA has sanctioned Rs 5 crore for the imaging centre
Ms Shylaja also received representations from the employees who said that the government order on the integration of EMC into government service was yet to be out. The fate of 350 contract and daily wage staff is still unsure and the minister said those having required qualifications will be considered for absorption. The PSC’s concurrence will be sought on the fate of staff who were permanent under CAPE. All steps would be taken on speeding up the integration process.
However, coming as a great dampener, the minister failed to turn up at the CCRC OP wing which is functioning at the pay ward building of EMC on the same campus. “Chemotherapy is being administered at the CCRC and the minister should have visited the facility and explored the scope for providing more facilities to the patients. The CCRC is still to have a full-time director and the governing council of CCRC chaired by the chief minister has met only once since the new government assumed power. Those who have campaigned for setting up the centre are disappointed over the approach of the minister and the government in taking forward the establishment of facilities at the current centre and establishing the full-fledged CCRC,” said Dr N.K. Sanil Kumar, who is among the volunteers of Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer Movement that is in the forefront of setting up the cancer centre.
