RCC director appointment controversy deepens; doctors allege bias in committee selection 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The process to appoint a new director for the Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) faces controversy. A search committee formed by the government includes only oncology surgeons, leading to allegations of bias. Experts from other cancer treatment fields like radiation and medical oncology were excluded. The Kerala wing of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India complained to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who forwarded it to Health Minister Veena George. The complaint supports Kerala Kaumudi’s February 10 report about attempts to bypass qualifications for the director’s post through backdoor appointment.

Previously, search committees included radiation and medical oncologists, along with representatives from institutions like AIIMS. The current committee has only private sector members: chairman Dr C.S. Pramesh (Tata Memorial Hospital), Dr R. Ravi Kannan (Cachar Cancer Hospital), and convener Dr B. Satheesan (Malabar Cancer Centre). All are oncology surgeons. Doctors demand a committee with medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists, plus pathology experts from government institutions like AIIMS and JIPMER.

The RCC Governing Body, chaired by the Chief Minister, initially set 20 years of experience as the director’s qualification. This was later reduced to 15 years. Health Department Additional Chief Secretary Rajan Khobragade instructed the search committee to allow additional professors at RCC to apply for the director’s post, as they are to be considered as professors.

Only seven people applied for the director’s post this time, down from 15 last year. Six applicants are from RCC. Earlier, many applicants came from national cancer institutes. The diluted qualifications in the notification reportedly caused the drop in applications.