KOCHI: The much awaited Out Patient wing of the proposed Cochin Cancer Centre will begin functioning on Tuesday, as promised by the government, at a building on Ernakulam Medical College campus. The official inauguration of the OP is likely to be held on November 11.
Though OP starts functioning on Tuesday, the government is still in search of a director for the Cancer Centre. “It is not necessary to have a director to start the OP. A director is required only when the Cancer Centre becomes full fledged,” points out Dr Sanil Kumar. A volunteer with the Justice V R Krishna Iyer movement which has been campaigning for the centre.
“What really matters is opening of the OP unit. The Regional Cancer Centre at Thiruvananthapuram too had a humble beginning. RCC started functioning in ward in Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, but now it has grown into such a big institution which provides wide spectrum of services,” said Dr Sanil Kumar.
“The government has issued orders appointing doctors and supporting staff for the OP Wing. Their appointment orders were sent out last week,” said P Rajeev MP, who is also the district secretary of the ruling party. “Making service of existing doctors available for the OP section of the Cancer Centre will be decided after discussions with the medical college authorities,” he added.
A total of 12.12 acres have been earmarked for the Cancer Centre on the campus of the Government Medical College. A new block which had been constructed on the campus has been identified as the OP section. On August 18, 2014, the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had laid the foundation stone for the Cancer Centre. However, the project got delayed. Project report was prepared by Hospital Service Consultancy Corporation (HSCC) Limited.