Kochi: Even as state ministers from Ernakulam refuse to publicly back a cancer centre in Kochi being demanded by a popular movement led by Justice V R Krishna Iyer, Finance Minister K.M. Mani and Social Justice Minister M. K. Muneer have offered their support for only one such centre in Central Kerala.
When a delegation sent by Justice Krishna Iyer comprising former Ernakulam District Collector K R Viswambharan and health activist Dr N K Saniil Kumar met Mani, he said that his department was ready to support it in this financial year, without waiting for the next budget.
He pointed out that '5 crore was earmarked in this year’s budget for it but it had not been utilized by the health department.
Justice Krishna Iyer has asked Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to clear the proposal in the next Cabinet along with the government takeover of Kochi Co-operative Medical College.
It has been pointed out that the cancer centre can be started now by taking over one or two wards remaining unutilized at CMC campus. “This is the way the RCC was started. A special officer can be appointed by the Cabinet simultaneously,” said Dr Sanil Kumar.
Muneer told Viswambharan that the social welfare department was keen to support the centre for child cancer patients.
