Kochi Cancer Centre in doldrums without a director, approval for 358 posts also delayed

KOCHI: The appointment of director and government approval for 358 posts is delayed while the Kochi Cancer Research Centre, where the patients in central Kerala rely on for treatment, is scheduled to start treatment in its own building in October.

Malabar Cancer Centre invited applications last June to fill the vacancy left by centre director Dr Moni Kuriakose who resigned in March 2012 and handed over the shortlist to the government. Interviews were not conducted after complaints were raised. The Malabar Centre has been directed to invite applications again but it is unclear when the appointments will take place.

Starting with 100 beds and radiation facilities, this centre should provide inpatient treatment for 370 people when fully equipped in seven years. However, the absence of a director affects operations.

Wanted posts

When the new building is ready, government approval is required to create and hire 358 posts. Currently, there are 72 employees. There are seven consultant doctors and three junior doctors. It is also difficult to get good doctors as private hospitals pay huge salaries.

Seventh year of sluggishness

The centre was started on November 1, 2016 in the premises of Government Medical College, Kalamasery. Construction of the centre's own building started in 2018. The first contractors were fired for delaying the work. The second contractors completed 90 percent of the work. Inkel Managing Director for Construction, Dr E Ilankovan, reviewed the progress yesterday. He informed that the first phase can be started in October.

It will have 100 beds, four theatres, three radiotherapy units, a tumor scanner, MRI scan, CT scan, blood bank, microbiology unit and anaesthesia equipment, Centre Superintendent Dr PG Balagopal told Keralakaumudi.

New building

Area 6.36 lakh sq.ft

Floors 9

370 beds

Operation theatre 12