THALASSERY: The Malabar Cancer Centre (MCC) here is all set to become a full-fledged cancer treatment hospital after a span of uncertainty linked with the controversy over SNC Lavalin and the promised Canadian aid.

The formal inauguration of the radiotherapy wing at the MCC, that comprises a tele-cobalt radiation unit and a treatment planning system, by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on December 27 will mark the first phase of a long-drawn-out plan for making it a full-fledged cancer care centre in the region. Preliminary operation of the Rs.2.5 crore radiation unit has already been under way.

The major shortcoming of the MCC being the lack of a radiation unit, the new unit along with the treatment planning system will be an answer to the present handicap.

According to hospital authorities, nearly 80 per cent of cancer patients reaching the MCC required radiation.

With the installation of the radiation unit, 50 to 80 cancer patients can be given radiation a day at the hospital, they say.

Even as the MCC has still to go a long way to become a fully-equipped cancer treatment facility as envisaged in its original plan, steps are now on to bring more state-of-the-art treatment units to the hospital.

Upgradation

In the next phase of upgradation, a CT scan unit, a radiation simulator that can allow precise treatment to the patients and a brachy therapy unit will be installed in six months, says MCC firector M. Iqbal Ahamed. The Central Health Ministry has sanctioned Rs.5 crores for the purchase of the simulator and the CT scanner, he said exuding the hope that the hospital will soon be able to treat all patients reaching here.

Dr. Ahamed says that an average of 50 cancer patients avail treatment here.

As nearly 30 per cent of cancer patients reaching the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in Thiruvananthapuram are from the Malabar region, the hospital expects an annual 70,000 patient visits, says Dr. Ahamed, an oncologist on deputation from the Regional Cancer Centre, who has been serving at the MCC for the last five years.

The MCC plans to have a linear accelerator and to improve facilities for surgical procedures by opening a well-equipped operation theatre in addition to the existing one. Lack of an in-patient ward and shortage of doctors are affecting the functioning of the hospital.

Dormitory

A 20-bed dormitory for poor patients will be built soon as local MP P. Satheedevi has released Rs.10 lakhs for the works from her MP's Local Area Development Scheme.

The original plan envisages a 150-bed dormitory.

At present the MCC has the facility for 60 in-patients and has around 40 in-patients.

Located on a 26-acre land at Kodiyeri here, the MCC will not find availability of land a problem for its infrastructure development.

The MCC is managed by the Malabar Cancer Centre Society with Chief Minister as the chairman of its governing body and Electricity and Health Ministers as vice-chairmen.

The inaugural function would be held at 11 a.m. on December 27.

Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohamed will inaugurate the tele-cobalt radiation unit while Tourism Minister K.C. Venugopal will switch on the treatment planning system.

Local MLA Kodiyeri Balakrishnan will preside over the function.

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