KOCHI: The Kochi Cancer Research Centre (KCRC) has been able to overcome a major hurdle in its current functioning with the medical superintendent of the KCRC Dr P G Balagopal and Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC) principal Dr V K Sreekala signing a memorandum of understanding for sharing the facilities of the medial college with the KCRC, the other day. The MoU has been signed on the orders of the District Collector Muhammed Y Safirulla who holds key posts in both government institutions, one as special office or KCRC and the other as chairman of EMC Hospital Development Committee.
As per the agreement, one operation theatre of EMC will be set apart for the KCRC. Apart from that KCRC can also make use of EMC casualty, lab facilities, ultrasound and CT scans, post-operative wards and the investigation facilities. The OP wing of the KCRC which is now functioning at the payward building of EMC will be able to expand its functioning once this tieup becomes operational and the three oncology surgeons at the KCRC can utilize their service for the benefit of the patients.
Meanwhile the PPP firm INKEL which is tasked with construction of the KCRC project is learnt to be banking heavily on the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) specialists including its director Dr Paul Sebastian for preparing the DRP of KCRC as it does not have any expertise in preparing the same. As per the advice of Dr Paul Sebastian an INKEL delegation is understood to be visiting premier cancer centres in the country including the Tata Memorial Centre. They are also banking on the experience and expertise of Dr P G Balagopal. Dr Paul Sebastian, however, is learnt to have told INKEL representatives that he does not have any expertise in designing a cancer hospital which is the domain of an architect who is familiar with the design of a cancer hospital. There are specific design requirements for specific areas in a cancer hospital, he told them. According to the district collector, the DPR will be ready by this month-end.
