KOCHI: With the new government assuming office in the state, the progress of the Kochi Cancer Research Centre and Hospital project is set to be a concern for the people of central Kerala, especially in Kochi.
The Rs 450-crore project has not even crossed the first phase even nearly two years after the foundation stone was laid. The opening of the outpatient wing is targeted in the first phase and it is stalled because of the procedural delay in appointing staff at the college. A total of 31 posts have been created but as the election code of conduct was in force, the posts could not be advertised and the appointments made. With the election code of conduct lifted, the procedures are expected to gather pace.
Meanwhile, former MP and CPM district secretary P. Rajeev, who has been in the forefront of the agitation to realize the cancer centre along with the Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer Movement, told DC on Thursday that the cancer centre will be placed as a project having priority in the state before the Pinarayi ministry.
Mr Rajeev also said that there was no specific agenda to shift the special officer of the project Dr Asha Thomas. “I had told the people who raised the demand in this regard that she cannot be entirely blamed for the current state of the project. It was entirely stuck for one year even before she came. The agenda of the new ministry is to push the project and nothing else,” Mr Rajeev said.
The conditions set by the Central government agency like Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation which is identified through the nomination mode to implement the project should not be accepted as such. “Negotiations have to be held with HSCC on the project cost, facilities to be provided and on the fee to be given to them and other aspects,” Mr Rajeev said.
The new Health Minister K.K. Shylaja has only taken charge and the issues will be brought to her attention. “The OP wing has to be opened soon while the works for starting the construction of the main block too have to be speeded up. The attempt should not be to rely entirely on the facilities at the Ernakulam Government Medical College. The cancer centre should have an independent existence,” said Mr Rajeev.
