The Union government has selected Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, as the nodal centre for overseeing the implementation of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), which will be implemented in five districts of the State.
The programme will be implemented on a pilot basis in 100 districts of the country, and in Karnataka, it will be implemented in Tumkur, Kolar, Udupi, Shimoga and Chikmagalur. Director of the Kidwai institute M. Vijayakumar told The Hindu here on Sunday that the institute would directly implement the programme by taking up training and monitoring the screening procedures in Tumkur and Kolar. In Udupi, Shimoga and Chikmagalur districts, it would oversee the implementation of the programme.
To a question, Dr. Vijayakumar said that the under the supervision and coordination of the Kidwai institute, a linear accelerator for radiation therapy was being installed at the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Hubli. The Rs. 5-crore project is funded by the State government.
He said the Peripheral Cancer Centre at Mandya, which was hitherto managed by the Kidwai institute, had been taken over the by the Government Medical College, Mandya. The institute, however, continues to provide expert advice on treatment through telemedicine link. Similarly, the institute continues to provide training and extend its expertise to the Mysore Medical College and Research Institute on providing treatment to cancer patients.
Gulbarga centre
To a question about the Peripheral Cancer Centre in Gulbarga, managed by the institute, Dr. Vijayakumar said he inspected the facility on Saturday and held discussions with medical and paramedical staff on improving the treatment facilities.
He said the radio therapy facility, which was suspended in 2011 after the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board cancelled the licence, was restarted in February 2012 after the suspension was revoked. And, more than 50 patients had availed themselves of the facility as outpatients since then.
He said the institute had initiated measures to take up repair and reconstruction of wards to restart inpatient facility at the centre.
There was a proposal to start chemotherapy facility at the centre, Dr. Vijayakumar added.
