Cancer centre requires four oncologists: SHRC

Kochi: State human rights commission (SHRC) chairman Justice J B Koshy said that the Kalamassery Cancer Centre would become operational as soon as the state government made available four oncologists to take charge of the out-patient (OP) ward here.
"Rest of the facilities will be set up within the blink of an eye as there are numerous benefactors to take the proposal forward.Additional staff like nurses and attenders should be arranged from the medical college itself," said Koshy.
He was speaking after visiting the cancer centre near Cochin Cooperative Medical College on Monday following a complaint that the formation of the cancer centre was being allegedly delayed by private hospitals.
District collector M G Rajamanickam said that all necessary equipment required for the OP ward, as suggested by regional cancer centre doctors, have been purchased and would be installed shortly. "Of the Rs 10 crore allotted towards the purchase of medical instruments, Rs 3 crore has been utilized till date," he said.
On the contrary, Justice V R Krishna Iyer Movement activists said insufficient supply of medical equipment was a major hindrance.
There were also complaints about the lack of basic facilities for cancer-diagnostic processes such as immunohistochemistry that are not yet available at the medical college.