The Cochin Cancer Research Centre will soon begin in-patient services, integrated home care services under pain and palliative care and an intensive preventive campaign. District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla, who is also the Special Officer for the cancer centre, has said in a statement that specialists required for the services would soon be appointed.
The government had indicated the opening of the in-patient service as the numbers of patients reaching the centre has gone up from 350 last year to 660 this year.
To begin with, a 20-bed facility will be arranged. INKEL, which is building the cancer centre building, has been given the responsibility of arranging infrastructure at the present OP wing to set up the in-patient facility.
Home care services will begin with visits to the houses of patients in nearby areas.
Karunya Varsham, an NGO, and employees of the cancer centre will jointly provide the service. The centre will take steps to create awareness in society on early detection of cancer and preventive methods in association with voluntary organisations.
The State has over two lakh cancer patients in various stages of treatment, according to the statement by Mr. Safirulla.
The centre will also train doctors in primary health centres.
An operation theatre and an intensive care unit on the premises of the Government Medical College, Ernakulam, will be made use of by the cancer centre to make the surgical oncology department functional.
This will make an effective change in the treatment modalities available at the centre.
Gynaecological and head and neck cancer treatments will be effectively taken up in the institution instead of being referred to other centres.
Speech and swallow clinic, and lymphedema clinic are among the rehabilitation facilities that will be launched, according to Mr. Safirulla.
