Justice V R Krishna Iyer lauded the state government’s decision, to take over the Kochi Cooperative Medical College (CMC), Kalamassery, on Wednesday. He was addressing reporters at his residents.
“I am happy to know that the government has agreed with the first of the two prominent demands, the take over of the Cooperative Medical College by the government and a new cancer centre for Kochi, as put forth by the movement for a cancer centre for Kochi. Now what we want is a detailed project report (DPR) for the cancer centre,” Krishna Iyer said. Dr N K Sanil Kumar, a urologist based in Kochi and an active member of the cancer centre movement accused that the Health Department is still reluctant to prepare a detailed project report.
“The Finance Department is ready to hand over the money. But the dearth of a well researched DPR is the major road block before the project. A sum of ` five crore has already been promised for the same in the last budget. The Centre needs an outlay of `300 crores which could be pooled in easily by the Central government and other health organisations as we have many such schemes. However, all this could be done only with a detailed DPR,” he said. A panel should be formed with experts to prepare the DPR. As the first phase of the fund collection is over, a memorandum will be submitted to the Prime Minister, he said.
Critic M K Sanu, said the campaign gained momentum only with the help of media and the medical students who exerted pressure on the government. “Though we approached politicians, they were not ready to take even a single measure towards it,” he said. C K Ramamchandran and K R Vishwambharan also spoke.