In a boost to public healthcare services, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Monday announced the setting up of a regional cancer treatment centre in Mysuru and also at Shivamogga at a cost of ₹100 crore.
He also announced the establishment of an emergency treatment unit in Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute (MMCRI) besides three other cities, at a total cost of ₹5 crore.
With this, the Chief Minister has met the long-pending demand for a dedicated cancer care facility in Mysuru which, according to senior doctors at MMCRI, has reported a surge in cancer cases in recent years.
After the branch of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research was set up here and was established as an independent facility, the demand for establishing the branch of Kidwai Institute for Oncology grew here, and the successive governments were urged by the locals, including many elected representatives,to establish the branch of the institute to cater to the needs of cancer treatment.
Considering the demand, the CM announced the regional cancer treatment facility here. MMCRI Dean and Director C.P. Nanjaraj said: “The facility could be the branch of Kidwai Institute. If it is an independent facility, it may perhaps function under the MMCRI. We had actually sought equipment for cancer treatment for our super speciality hospital which has come up on KRS Road. An independent treatment centre will help the treatment of patients of the region.”
As per the NMC norms, emergency medicinehas to be studied separately at the UG level in medical colleges and therefore the government announced the unit for Mysuru. It will be one of the departments at the MMCRI, helping in establishing an effective system of emergency treatment with dedicated training to faculty and students.
Though the trauma care centre here was established long ago and was also inaugurated, it remained non-functional for want of manpower and equipment. Perhaps, on knowing this, the Chief Minister said in his budget speech that the trauma care centre will be commenced, hinting at providing manpower and equipment for making it functional. He, however, has not specified the funds for making it operational.
Post-COVID-19, the trauma care centre was identified for COVID-19 treatment but it didn’t function as the second COVID-19 facility though more than 40 beds got centralised oxygen supply as the cases dropped substantially and only one dedicated COVID-19 hospital was sufficient to handle the cases. The MMCRI had sought its operations to deal with the rush of emergency care at the K.R/ Hospital.
