Cancer centre files gathering dust

The proposed Cancer Hospital and Research Institute continues its existence in the dusty files of the Health department.

The files of the cancer centre set to come up adjacent to the Government Medical College, Kalamassery, for which Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had laid the foundation stone in August last, seems to have got stuck in the corridors of power in the Secretariat.

The last decision the government took on the project was to take up the annuity mode of financing the cancer centre.

High-level sources in the Health department told

The Hindu that the Finance department was reconsidering the annuity model and had expressed the intent to hold a discussion on the issue. However, no decision has been taken on the nature and dates of discussions.

According to sources, the pressure group led by the late V. R. Krishna Iyer used to push the government to take decisions on the proposed cancer centre. But, after Iyer’s demise, the pressure group had not been able to make much headway in this regard, said the sources.

Mr. Chandy had promised to get the cancer centre ready within two years. However, the project is yet to get the administrative sanction even after 10 months.

It is learnt that the government could give administrative sanction only if 20 per cent of the estimated amount of Rs. 450 crore had been earmarked in the Budget. Since no funds have been earmarked and the Finance department had opted for the annuity model, administrative sanction could be obtained only with the concurrence of the Finance department.

The government had announced the Cancer centre on public demand and had also appointed noted oncologist V. P. Gangadharan as the Special Officer for the project. It is up to the people’s representatives in the district to push for such a centre, said a senior Health official.