CM to inaugurate peripheral cancer centre at Kalaburagi on May 27

KALABURAGI The peripheral cancer centre, upgraded into a full-fledged cancer hospital in Kalaburagi city with state-of-the-art treatment facilities, will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on May 27.

Medical Education Minister Sharanprakash Patil, who played a crucial role in reviving the centre which was on the verge of closure, told The Hindu in Kalaburagi city on Saturday that the Chief Minister would also lay the foundation stone for a dharmashala next to the hospital to provide boarding facilities for the relatives of patients. It is being constructed with the funds provided by the Infosys Foundation.

The cancer hospital, which has the latest LINIAC machine to provide radiation treatment, also has a full-fledged CT stimulator providing advanced diagnostic facilities, chemotherapy unit and a state-of-the-art operation theatre. The latest brachytherapy unit would be installed at a cost of Rs. 3 crore.

Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy where a sealed radiation source is placed inside or next to the area requiring treatment. It is commonly used as an effective treatment for cervical, prostate, breast, and skin cancer and can also be used to treat tumours in many other body sites.

To a question, Mr. Patil said that the inauguration of the Women and Child Hospital in Kalaburagi city would take a few more weeks since a few more departments functioning in the old government hospital are still in the process of shifting their units to the new building.

To a question on the additional MBBS seats added to the kitty of Karnataka in the government quota, the Minister said that besides 900 seats added with the opening of six new government medical colleges, an additional 350 seats have been added with the increase of intake in the existing government medical colleges at Raichur, Bidar, Shivamogga, Belagavi, Mandya and Hassan from 100 to 150 seats and from 150 to 200 in KIMS, Hubli. There has also been considerable increase in the intake of postgraduate seats under the government quota this year.