Cancer centre: Move to revise DPR kicks up row

KOCHI: The state government's move to entrust the duty of revising the detailed project report (DPR) of Kochi Cancer Institute with Regional Cancer Centre and Malabar Cancer Centre has kicked up a controversy. During the period of the UDF government also there was a move to delegate RCC for preparing the DPR, which was called off after the latter made it clear that they didn't have the required expertise.
According to the government, the existing DPR would suit the requirements of the state.But, those opposing the move say that the government should have approached a competent authority if it really wanted to revise the DPR to better suit the needs of patients in the state. "A couple of years ago, there was a similar move to entrust the duty of revising the DPR of Kochi Cancer Institute with RCC. Then, the RCC director had made it clear that they didn't have the expertise in the area. If that is the case with RCC, the competence of MCC also can be questionable," said Dr N K Sanil Kumar of Justice V R Krishna Iyer Movement. "The current move may delay the project further," he said.
At the same time, the top officials with health department defended the government move. "This is the third cancer centre after RCC and MCC. It must at least have the facilities at these centres," said health secretary Rajeev Sadanandan. "Authorities of RCC and MCC can tell what is missing in the current DPR. The current DPR is not up to the standards," he said. "We had spoken to the officials with HSCC, the agency which prepared the existing DPR. Then, they told us that this was what they were asked to prepare. So, we need to set the consultant to do the right job," he said.
Earlier, a review of the DPR conducted by the government revealed certain shortcomings as it had been prepared using a common template without considering the specific requirements of the state.