The functioning of the Cancer Hospital and Research Centre on the premises of the Ernakulam Government Medical College, Kalamassery, is likely to be funded initially by the government. At a meeting of the executive committee of the cancer centre, chaired by Finance Secretary K. M. Abhraham earlier this month, it was decided not to go in for a commercial loan as the government would find it difficult to repay the loan and the interest.
The model on which the Regional Cancer Centre at Thiruvananthapuram functions and the finances were discussed and it was decided to recommend that since the cancer centre would not be generating revenue, a commercial loan would not be a practical approach.
The detailed project submitted by the Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation Limited (HSCC) was not discussed owing to the absence of Health Secretary K. Ellangovan at the meeting.
There were allegations that the project was not fully studied and that the government was misguided on the project details. Even though the government had approved the setting of the cancer centre, it is yet to approve the HSCC project.
However, a final decision on the finances would be taken by the new government.
