Kochi: The Justice V R Krishna Iyer Movement on Tuesday demanded top priority for health sector projects in Central Kerala and asked the candidates fighting elections in Central Kerala to place this as their priority.
In a letter sent to candidates of the three prominent fronts in Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Chalakkudy, Thrissur and Alappuzha, the Movement leader Dr N.K. Sanil Kumar said that the state is having the largest number of cancer patients in the country.
“Moreover, at least 30,000 new cancer patients are registered every year. In Central Kerala now the hopes are pinned on the CCRC which is being established in the aftermath of efforts taken by Justice Iyer. However, after its foundation stone was laid in 2014, only piling works of the main building has been undertaken until now,” Dr Sanil Kumar said.
He said that steps should be taken to make it a research institute of world standards and more land should be acquired for its expansion. “There should be a post-graduate institute to give training to medical-paramedical staff. The state government alone cannot realise the centre and the elected MPs can do a lot to elicit Central Government support and aid of international agencies for its growth,” he said adding the adjoining Ernakulam Government Medical College should also be upgraded so that they support each other benefitting patients.
“The promise of an All India Institute of Medical Science for Kerala has been hanging fire for the past five years. After we got Sree Chitra Institute 30 years ago, we are yet to get institutions of national importance. So it is the responsibility of the elected MPs to get this `2000 crore institution for the state at the earliest,” the letter said.
