KOCHI: The Kochi Cancer Research Centre is set to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Ernakulam Government Medical College to conduct cancer surgeries and admit the patients to post-operative wards. The MoU will be signed between cancer centre special officer and district collector Muhammed Y. Safirulla and EMC principal Dr V.K. Sreekala so that the functioning of the cancer centre becomes smooth and goes beyond checking patients at its OP wing.
As per the revised MoU, the cancer surgeries will be posted at one of the operation theatres of EMC after prior consultation between the authorities of the two institutions. The patients will be shifted to the post-operative ward of EMC from where they will be discharged after recuperation. It is proposed to use the lab, ICU, casualty, ultra sound and CT scanning and cardiology facilities at EMC by the cancer centre doctors for taking care of the patient who is admitted for surgery, till his recuperation. The cancer centre will pay EMC the charges for the facilities used. For the purpose of documentation, the patient will have to register at the medical college also.
The cancer centre will provide the nurses, senior residents and other staff for conducting the surgery. It is also proposed to take anaesthetists on contract at the cancer centre to assist in surgeries rather than depending on the medical college for securing the services of its anaesthetists. Once the director takes charge at the cancer centre, he/she will interact with the principal of the medical college for the smooth operation of the MoU so that the cancer patients coming to the OP wing, that was opened in November, are taken care of.
Health secretary Rajeev Sadanandan is showing keen interest in the new MoU while collector is also taking steps to take the institution beyond an OP. There were complaints that the old MoU had not taken care of the whole gamut of issues because of which the surgeries have not taken off in a big way. Altogether there are seven doctors at the cancer centre. Medical superintendent Dr P.G. Balagopal is one of the three surgeons.
