Kochi Cancer Centre Project chief in mood to quit

KOCHI: Dr Asha Thomas,  who has been appointed chairman and managing director of Supplyco,  has requested the state government to relieve her from the responsibility of the special officer of the Kochi Cancer Centre Project.   She was earlier the  IMG additional director-general.

In a letter sent to  Health Minister K.K. Shylaja, Dr Asha Thomas said that she was not in a position to continue in the post under the present arrangement. She said that in the planning stage of the cancer centre itself, there were several lapses and the health department had kept them under wraps.

She  pointed out that the cancer centre should not be set up like a commercial establishment by taking loan. Budget allocation should be given for it and other sources of fund should be identified. “If loan is taken for it, the financial burden accrued from it will indirectly fall on the patients,” she said in the letter.

The finance department,  which identified that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the Central Government-owned Hospital Service Consultancy Corporation (HSCC) was just a concept note, had asked the health department to examine it. The Regional Cancer Centre and Malabar Cancer Centre Directors,  who were assigned  the task to study it,  did not give a favourable report. However, the heath secretary informed the state cabinet that they had given a favourable report, the letter said.

The HSCC prepared its report under the impression that there was enough money available for the construction of the cancer centre. They have quoted rates higher than those in the National Building Code. Lobbying to secure crores in loan on the basis of a report which does not explain how to repay the money would amount to helping the construction lobby, the letter said. The letter also criticised the health department for failing to reduce the consulting fee of HSCC from seven percent to state government’s accepted rate of 5 per cent.

The department secured the approval of the cabinet for this, months after reaching an agreement with HSCC. She also said that the then health secretary did not give her any support or provided staff on deputation for the cancer centre. The help for setting up the OP of the cancer centre was given by the PWD. She also pointed out that the government order stipulating powers and responsibility of the special officer has not so far come out.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) prepared by the special officer has not been approved by the health department. Instead a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) which was prepared much earlier has been approved. Administrative hassles cropped up with the special officer not being made a member of the society formed for the project.

Only after the special officer assumed charge that Rs 10 crore was included in the state budget through service procedure. She also pointed out that the OP is ready to start with nurses secured on deputation completing training in chemotherapy at RCC. It can be started once doctors selected are relieved by the health department on deputation, she said in the letter.

The  majority of private cancer hospitals in the state are making use of patients, who get government aid, for augmenting their income. If the move to set up the cancer centre through proper planning is torpedoed, some other sections will become the beneficiaries of the centre, the letter pointed out. Meanwhile, the letter said there have been allegations that the file related to cancer centre is missing from the State Secretariat.